Effect of Replacing Rice Polish With Prosopis Juliflora Pods in Complete Feeds on Intake, Digestibility and Nutritive Value in Cattle

Complete feeds (mash) based on wheat straw (30%) were prepared replacing rice polish with Prosopis juliflora pods at 0 (Tl), 10 (T2) or 20 (T3) per cent and evaluated for nutritive value in a metabolism trial on six crossbred bullocks in a switch over design. The DM intake was 3.00, 3.21 and 3.33 per cent of body weight and 117.92, 126.33 and 133.58 g/kg W ^0.75 in Tl, T2 and T3, respectively with non significant treatment differences. The digestibility coefficient of CP, EE, CF, NFE and DM were in the range of 61.94 to 72.71, 56.31 to 62.36, 40.21 to 57.09, 68.81 to 69.51 and 56.50 to 59.21, respectively in T1, T2 and T3. The digestibility of CP and CF increased with increase in level of Prosopis juliflora pods in the ration(P<0.05). The balances of nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium were positive in all the groups. The complete feeds Tl, T2 and T3 contained 9.80, 10.62 and 11.15% DCP and 54.75, 56.91 and 61.81% TDN, respectively. The overall results suggested that all complete feeds were palatable with no adverse effect on intake and digestibility of nutrients. Replacement of rice polish with Prosopis juliflora pods at 10 and 20% level increased palatability, intake, digestibility and nutritive value and decreased cost of feeds.