A study was conducted to assess the effect of total mixed rations (TMRs) on the nutrient utilization and growth in crossbred heifers. Crossbred heifers (18; 10 m old of 176.5±7.17 kg BW) randomly divided into 3 equal groups were offered isonitrogenous TMRs containing either wheat straw (WS) or urea fermented WS and cotton stalks along with concentrate mixture and non-leguminous fodder as TMR1, TMR2 and TMR3 for 120 days. The daily DMI of the animals fed TMR2 and TMR3 were statistically similar and was higher (P<0.05) than the animals fed TMR1. The digestibility of nutrients in TMR2 was higher (P<0.05) than that in TMR1 and was comparable with that of TMR3. The body weight gain/d in TMR2 and TMR3 was comparable but higher (P<0.05) than TMR, The cost/kg weight gain were statistically similar in all the groups.
Total mixed rations, Nutrient utilization, Growth, Heifers
