Nutritional worth of tumba (Citrullus colocynthis) cake as protein supplement for buffalo calves

An experiment was conducted to explore the possibilities of utilization of tumba cake (Citrullus colocynthis) in the ration of buffalo calves. The experiment was conducted on four male buffalo calves in switch over design. Four dietaiy treatments viz. T₁ control group having cotton seed cake as protein source where as in the experimental groups 25 (T₂), 50 (T₃) and 75 (T₄) % of cotton seed cake was replaced by tumba seed cake. The lowest dry matter intake was observed in T₄ group. The digestibility of DM & CP were significantly (P<0.01) decreased in T₄ group. Retention of nitrogen was significantly lowest in T₄ group whereas calcium and phosphorus remained unaffected. The effect on growth and feed efficiency was also significantly evident. It was inferred that tumba cake could be used as a potential protein source and safe to replace cotton seed cake up to 50% level in the ration of buffalo calves so as to economize the cost of feeding in arid zone.