1Mechari Sheep Research Station, Pottaneri, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pottaneri-636 453, Tamil Nadu, India.
2ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar-263 138, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India.
3Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur-482 001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
4Division of Animal Nutrition, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
5Division of Animal Nutrition, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001, India.
*Corresponding Author: A.K. Patil, Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur-482 001, Madhya Pradesh, India. Email: ashokdrpatil@gmail.com
Online published on 24 January, 2022.
Supplementation of urea molasses mineral block (UMMB) showed promising results in improving the nutrient utilization and the productivity of animals. This offers several advantages such as easy transport, storage and handlingand reduced risks of poisoning as compared with other approaches, such as giving a small amount of urea in drinking water, sprinkling of urea solution on fibrous feeds before feeding, or urea-ammonization of crop residues. These advantages of solid multi-nutrient blocks (SMB) opened up new vista to enhance productivity in terms of increased milk and meat production and higher reproductive efficiency in ruminant animal species. Keeping the above facts in view, this study was undertaken to determine the effect of feeding solid multinutrient blocks on feed intake, nutrient utilization and haemato-biochemical profile of crossbred calves.
In this study twenty four crossbred male calves of about 14-17 months of age were divided into four groups of six animals in each group. All animals were supplied wheat straw ad lib. In addition, animals in all groups were fed a concentrate mixture to meet out their nutrient requirement. Additionally, 30% of concentrate mixture (on CP basis) was replaced by solid multi-nutrient blocks (SMB-I), SMB-II and SMB-III in groups T1, T2 and T3, respectively. After 60 days offeeding a metabolism trial of 6 days was conducted to assess the nutrientutilization of animals. Blood samples were collected at 0, 75, 150 day of experimental feeding to determine hematological parameters, enzymes, biochemical parameters and serum mineral concentration.
The intake and digestibility of DM, OM, EE, NDF and ADF were comparable among 4 groups. The CP intake wassignificantly higher in SMB supplemented groups as compared to control but there was no significant difference in CP digestibility among 4 groups. All the animals in four groups were on positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance. Haematobiochemical parameters like Hb, PCV, glucose, total protein, globulin, A:G, SGOT and SGPT showed non-significant differences (p>0.05) among the groups, however, periodical serum concentrations of albumin, urea and creatinine was higher in crossbred calves at 75 and 150 days of experiment in comparison to 0 day. On basis of present results, it may be concluded that supplementation of SMB can replace 30% crude protein of concentrate mixture without any adverse effect on feed intake, digestibility, nutrient utilization and blood biochemical profile of crossbred calves.
Crossbred calves, Haemato bio chemical profile, Nutrient utilization, Solid multi-nutrient blocks
