Voluntary Feed Intake and Nutrient Utilization in Mithun

Three adult mithuns (460 kg b.wt.) were fed concentrate mixture and paddy straw in the ratio of 34: 66 individually to supply CP and TDN requirements suggested for cattle. A digestion trial of five days duration was conducted after 21 days of preliminary feeding. Daily dry matter intake was 8.00±0.35kgand 80.74±3.30g/kg W^0.75. The DCP and TDN intake were 4.70±0.30 and 47.31±1.66g/kg W^0.75, respectively. Digestibility of various organic nutrients, particularly fibre fractions (CF, NDF, Cellulose and hemicellulose) indicated that mithuns were efficient feed utilizers. DCP and TDN value of the experimental diet was 5.90±0.56 and 59.00±0.81%, respectively and no body weight change was observed indicating that the ration was adequate to meet the maintenance requirement of adult mithun.