Dairy Cattle Nutrition Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, (Haryana) India
*Corresponding author: Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Assistant Research Scientist (Animal Nutrition), Livestock Research Station, S.D Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Dantiwada-385506, Gujarat. sanjayvet29@rediffmail.com (Postal and email address), Ph. No- 02748-278463, Mobile No. 09277700806
The growth studies revealed that incorporation of roasted (160°C/30 min) (Ro) or formaldehyde treated (Ft) soybean cake at the level of 12.5 per cent in concentrate mixture, resulted in similar growth rate of buffalo calves. The total DM intake (kg/d) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in Ro fed group compared to Ft fed group. Similar trend was seen in TDN intake (kg/d). DM digestibility was also significantly higher (P < 0.01) in Ro compared to Ft. The CP intake was similar in the two groups of animals and N balance was also non-significantly different between the two groups of animals. Feeding of formaldehyde treated or roasted soybean cake showed similar feed conversion efficiency for growth. Thus, it could be concluded from the present study that soybean cake can be converted into bypass protein with equal efficiency, through roasting of the cake at 160°C for 30 min or by formaldehyde treatment (1.2 g/100 CP), as reflected by similar growth performance of buffalo calves fed the two types of processed cake.
Formaldehyde, Soybean, Digestibility, Growth
