Effect of Supplementation of Surfactant and Cellulolytic Enzymes on the Performance of Growing Crossbred Cattle Fed With Urea Treated Rhodes Hay (Chloris gayana)

Effect of supplementation of surfactant and cellulolytic enzymes to 2% urea treated Rhodes hay on growth of crossbred heifers was studied. Nine crossbred heifers were assigned to 3 similar groups of 3 each in a switch over design. During the trial of twelve weeks, free choice feeding of 2% urea treated Rhodes hay (group T-1), was supplemented with either 0.1% Tween-80 (group T-2) or 0.1% Tween-80 and 0.5% cellulolytic enzymes (group T-3). The concentrate mixture containing 97% maize was offered @ 1.25% of body weight of each animal. The average daily gain was similar in groups T-3 (540 g), T-2 (532 g) and group T-1 (500 g). Apparent nutrients digestibility and positive nitrogen balance among groups were similar. It is concluded that the supplementation of surfactant and cellulolytic enzymes had no advantage in improving the efficiency of feed utilization and growth performance of growing crossbred heifers.