Effect of Feeding Conventional and Non-Conventional Concentrate Mixtures with Oat-Silage on Nutrient Utilization in Growing Buffalo Calves

Effect of replacement of concentrate mixture with (w/w) non-conventional concentrate mixture was studied by feeding oat-silage ad lib (control T₁); oat-silage+ conventlonal concentrate mixture (T₂), and oat ullage + nonconvcntional concentrate mixture (T₃), to 1 to 1.5 year old growing buffalo bull calves. The average daily gain in weight was 330, 553 and 501 g in T₁, T₂ and T₃ groups, respectively, during 84 days growth period. The digestibility of DM, CP, EE and NFE were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the two test groups as compared to control. Among the treatments it was higherin T₁ group. The nitrogen balance was better in two groups as compared to control. The nutritive value of the pooled rations in terms of DCP and TDN were 3.61, 64.21; 6.80, 66.81 and 6.12, 61.89% in oat-silage, T₂ and T₃ groups, respectively. It may be inferred ttat a non-conventional concentrate mixture containing 85% DSB, 2% urea, 19% molasses alongwlth mineral mixture and salt supplemented with oat-silage prepared at milk stage may prove to be economical ration for growing buffalo calves.