Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition

Six crossbred (Jersey x Tharparkar) calves (age 22–23 months) were fed ricebean and sorghum sudan green fodder mixture ad lib. in the ratio of 46:54 (w/w, fresh basis) for 64 days. In addition, 30g common salt was fed to each calf per day. Average daily gain in body weight was 456±38g. The DM intake per 100kg body weight was 1.90±0.08 kg. The DCP and TDN of the fodder mixture was 6.45±0.15 and 48.35±0.95 percent, respectively on DM basis. Nitrogen balance (g/day) was 17.62±2.40. DM intake/kg gain in body weight was 10.40±90kg. This was inferred that ad lib feeding of fodder mixture could support a growth of 456g/day in crossbred calves.