Nutrient Utilization of Mithun (Bos frontalis) Calves on Tree Leaves Feeding

Three female mithun calves (165 kg b.wt.) were fed tree leaves ad lib. alongwith 4 kg concentrate mixture for a period of five weeks. Thereafter a digestion trial was conducted. DM intake of 6.4 kg/d was observed needed. Roughage to concentrate ratio in the diet was 52: 48. DM, DCP and TDN intakes per 100kg body weight were 3.67 kg, 0.356 kg and 2.48 kg, respectively. The nutritive value of the ration was 9.70% DCP and 67.47% TDN indicated that tree leaves were good source of protein and energy for mithun and an average growth rate of 376 g/day could be obtained on feeding of this ration.