Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition

A feeding trial of 37 days duration was conducted on fifteen growing Bhadawari buffalo heifers (145.1 kg), divided into 5 equal groups (G₁ to G₅) based on body weights and were randomly assigned to one of the five dietary treatments to find out optimum ratio of green guar (Cyamposis tetragonoloba) forage and wheat straw for increased feed intake and nutrient utilization. The different treatment combinations/ratios of guar forage, Bundel Guar-2 (BG-2) and wheat straw were 100: 0, 80: 20, 60: 40, 40: 60 and 0: 100 (on dry matter basis) and fed to the animals of G, G, G, G and G group, respectively. The green guar forage contained 15.91%

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CP and 43.11% ADF, while wheat straw contained 3.85% CP and 49.98% ADF. DMI was 3.50, 3.39, 3.04, 2.67 and 2.52 kg in G, G, G, G and G groups, respectively and the

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differences were significant (P < 0.05). Digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF, ADF and cellulose were significantly low in buffalo heifers of G₄ and G₅ groups when compared G₁ to G₃ groups. All the experimental buffalo heifers of G₁ to G₄ groups were in positive nitrogen balance except G₅ group (−6.35 g N/day). Differences in feed intakes and their utilization in experimental buffalo heifers also resulted in significant variation in daily CP (P<0.01) and TDN (P<0.05) intakes which ranged from 97 to 651g and 0.97 to 2.11 kg, respectively. Treatments had significant influence on the blood biochemical constituents like plasma glucose and urea-N, except plasma protein. Concentrations (units/dl) of glucose and urea-N varied from 47.62 to 61.73 and 15.11 to 19.34 mg, respectively and were significantly (P<0.01) low in buffalo heifers under G₄ and G₅ groups. It was concluded that for better feed intake as well as nutrient utilization of both Bundel Guar-2 variety of forage and wheat straw in growing Bhadawari buffalo heifers, should be mixed in a ratio of 60: 40.