Department of Animal Production, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur-313001, India.
Online published on 5 January, 2012.
Four cross-bred heifers (160-210 kg; 18 - 24m) were fed on dry grass ad lib without supplement (A), with urea (B), guar (Cyamopsis teteragonolaba) meal (C) and groundnut cake (D). The amount of N through supplement was similar. These four rations were evaluated for intake, digestibility of nutrients, rate of passage, nitrogen balance and body weight changes in a 4 x 4 Latin Square switch over design in dairy heifers.
N supplements improved (P<0.05) the digestibility of DM, OM, CP, CF, EE and NFE of dry grass ration but had little effect on its intake and rate of passage through digestive tract. The total DM intake was higher on treatments C and D than A and B. The intake of TDN and DCP increased appreciably consequent to supplemental N feeding of grass ration. Feeding of urea, GNC or guar meal alongwith dry grass brought about significant improvement in N status of the heifers. The heifers lost their weight on dry grass ration and gained in weight on N supplemented rations.
