Effect of Feeding Formaldehyde Treated Clusterbean Meal on Nutrient Utilization and Growth In Buffalo Calves

Twenty growing buffalo calves (1½ ys) were divided into four groups of five each. The animals were fed four dietary treatments viz. raw clusterbean seed, crushed and boiled clusterbean seed, raw clusterbean meal, and protected clusterbean meal along with weighed quantity of wheat straw in the ratio of 60:40 on ME basis as to provide 220 kcal ME/W^0.75 kg for 93 days. The clusterbean meal protein was protected with 1.5 g formaldehyde for 100 g protein. Dry matter intake, body weight gain, digestibility co-efficients of proximate principles except CP and nitrogen balance were almost similar among groups. Digestibility co-efficient of CP was higher (P<0.05) in clusterbean meal fed group. Protection of clusterbean meal protein with formaldehyde (1.5%) improved growth and feed utilization.