Eighteen crossbred female calves (8–12 months and b. wt. 78.61±8.55 kg), randomly divided in 3 groups of 6 each, were fed on wheat straw and concentrate mixture, separately (conventional feeding system, T1), wheat straw based total mixed ration (WSTMR, T2) or urea ammoniated wheat straw based total mixed ration (AWSTMR, T3) for a period of 60 days including that of 7 days digestion trial. The digestibility of proximate principles was higher (P<0.01) in WSTMR and AWSTMR groups than in group fed on conventional feeding system, however, DM and CF digestibility was higher (P<0.01) in AWSTMR than its untreated counterpart (WSTMR), which indicated positive effect of ammoniation. Feeding of WSTMR and AWSTMR resulted in higher (P<0.05) intake of DCP and TDN than that recorded on feeding wheat straw and concentrate mixture as per conventional system. Feeding of AWSTMR improved the growth rate (P<0.05) of calves, however, feed conversion efficiency and economics of dietary treatments were comparable. Thus, it may be inferred that feeding of wheat straw as such or after its ammoniation along with concentrate mixture in the form of TMR yielded better response in crossbred calves than that from conventional feeding system of feeding concentrate and straw separately.
Calves, Total mixed ration, Urea ammoniation, Nutrient utilization, Growth, Economics
