Effect of Corn Steep Liquor Feeding on Growth of Cross-Bred Calves

Twenty cross-bred (Jersey x Kankrej) male calves (6-9m; 83 kg) were randomly divided in four equal groups and fed concentrate mixture having 0 (T₁), 15 (T₂) and 30 (T₃) percent levels of corn steep liquor. The calves In T₄ were fed the same concentrate mixture as fed to T₁ but 30% less than the requirements and served as negative control. The average daily gains of calves in Ti, T₂, T3 and T4 were 552, 480, 462 and 428 g, respectively. The corresponding increases in heart girth, height at withers and body length were 35.6, 30.6, 30.6, 29.6, 21.8, 19.2, 18.6, 17.6 and 28.6, 24.0, 25.6 and 25.0 cms during 32 wks of growth period. The differences for body weight gain and increase in heart girth were significantly higher under T₁ (control) than other groups. However, the differences for increase in height at withers and body length were non-significant. The DM intake (kg/kg gain) ranged from 7.61 to 9.23. The cost of feeding per kg gain in weight was Rs. 11.15, 11.82, 11.96 6 and 2.26 under T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ respectively. The above results indicated that corn steep liquor could be fed up to 15% level in concentrate mixture to growing cross-bred calves.