Nutrient Utilization in Buffaloes from Economic Rations

Nutritent utilization from cereal or oil cake free rations were studied on male Murrah buffalo calves in 4x4 Latin square design experiment. Animals in control group I were fed concentrate mixture containing mustard cake 40, wheat bran 30 and barley 30 parts. In three experimental groups II, HI and IV barley or wheat bran or barley and mustard cake were eliminated, respectively. In group IV, urea was incorporated to the extent of 3 per cent and all rations were made isonitrogenous. Wheat straw was offered ad lib. to meet the dry matter requirement. Animal in all groups were given 20 g mineral mixture and 10 g common salt. The result showed that DM consumption of animal in four groups varied between 2.17±0.10 to 2.25±0.13 kg/100 kg B.wt.’ and digestibility coefficients of nutrients between varied 62.51±2.57 to 66.03±2.03 with no significant differences. Nitrogen balances in four groups were positive and non significantly (P>0.05) varied from 21.86±1.95 to 28.91±1 58 g/d Percent N retention of absorbed N was 61 34±4 12 in group II followed by groups IV, III and I DCP, TDN and ME intakes of animals in four groups remained similar. Elimination of barley or wheat bran or oil cake and barley and incorporation of 3 per cent urea did not adversely affect the availability of nutrients from three experimental rations.