Effect of Feeding Ad libitum Wheat Bran or Deoiled Rice Bran with Restricted Wheat Straw on Feed Intake and Nutrient Utilization in Crossbred Cows

Ten dry crossbred (B. taunts x B. indicus) cows of about 7 years of age were divided randomly into two groups. Groups 1 and 2 were fed ad libitum wheat bran and de-oiled rice bran, respectively, along with restricted wheat straw (1.6 kg) and one kgavailable green fodder to meet out carotene requirement for 34 days including 6 days digestion trial period. The straw: bran ratio was 18:82 and 14:86 in group 1 and 2, respectively. The DM intake/100 kg body weight was higher (P<0.01) in group 2(3.08 kg) than in group 1(2.42 kg), however nutrient digestibility was significantly (P<0.01) higher in group 1 than in group 2. The diet fed in group 1 contained 14.9, 11.3 and 63.9 per cent CP DCP and TON, respectively, and corresponding values in group 2 were 15.0 9.0 and 47.6 per cent on DM basis being significantly different for DCP and TDN content. It may be concluded that ad libitum feeding of wheat bran furnished more nutrients than that of de-oiled rice bran.