International Journal of Cow Science

Fifteen lactating crossbred cows in early stage of lactation were divided into three groups of five animal each on the basis of milk yield (6.0 to 10.0 kg) and body weight (301 to 468 kg) and were allotted to three dietary treatments viz. T₁ animals were given untreated GNC, while in treatment T₂ and T₃ FA treated @ 0.5 g FA/100 g CP and FA treated @ 1.0 g FA/100 g CP respectively as a source of protein in the concentrate mixture. All the animals were offered wheat straw (Triticum aestivum) ad lib + 5 kg green berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum). DMI and TDN intake per kg metabolic body size were significantly (P<0.05) affected by protected protein feeding. However, non-significant differences were observed between treatments for CPI and DCP intake per kg metabolic body size. The voluntary water intake and total water intake was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T₃ as compared to T₂ and T₁. The digestibility coefficient of all nutrients except CF had non-significant variation between the treatments. However, CF digestibility was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T₃ (64.58%) as compared to T₂ (61.64%) and T₁ (59.47%). Protein and energetic efficiency was not significantly influenced by three feeding treatments.