Effect of Feeding Oat Silage on the Performance of Growing Buffalo Calves

Effect of partial replacement of conventional concentrate mixture with oat-silage was studied on twelve growing female buffalo calves (14 months old) divided into two groups of six animals each. The control group (T₁) was offered conventional concentrate mixture and wheat straw while in treatment group (T₂), 50% of conventional concentrate mixture was replaced by oat-silage. Feed intake did not vary significantly between the groups. The apparent digestibility of DM was 66.43 and 67.23 in T₁ and T₂, respectively. The corresponding figures for CP digestibility were 62.66 and 64.49 and these figures did not vary significantly between the groups. The digestibility of EE, CF and NFE were also similar in both the groups. The intake of energy (TDN) was 2.63 and 2.85 kg in T₁ and T₂ groups respectively, while the corresponding values for DCP were 297.37 and 285.17 g/day. The differences in TDN and DCP intakes did not differ significantly between the groups. Plasma protein ranges between 7.02±0.11 and 7.8±0.15 g/dl and that of NPN 56.40±2.30 and 56.30±4.38 mg- N/dl in T₁ and T₂, respectively. The macro and micro- mineral content of serum in both the groups were within the normal range. During 90 days growth period, the average daily gain in body weight was 359 and 351 g in T₁ and T₂ groups, respectively. The cost (Rs.) of feeding per kg body weight gain in T₁ and T₂ groups was 75.51 and 57.04, respectively. Replacement of conventional concentrate mixture with oat silage reduced the cost of feeding by 25%. It may be inferred that the 50% requirement of conventional concentrate mixture could be met by replacing the concentrate mixture with oat silage to economize the rearing of growing buffalo calves.