1Division of Animal Nutrition, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
2Division of Livestock Production & Management, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
*Corresponding author: AK Pattanaik; E-mail: akpattanaik1@gmail.com
Online Published on 17 July, 2023.
The study was conducted to assess the effect of supplementation of graded levels of pulverized Jerusalem artichoke tuber on the growth performance of pre-weaned calves. Twenty-four Vrindavani calves (15 days, 23.64±0.57 kg BW) were distributed into four equal groups. The calves were fed graded levels of pulverized Jerusalem artichoke tuber (0, 1, 2 and 3 per cent of dry matter intake) mixed in milk in control, JAP-1, JAP-2 and JAP-3, respectively for a period of nine weeks. The weekly body weight, net body weight gain and average daily weight gain at the end of trial were comparable between the treatment groups. The weekly body measurements viz heart girth, abdomen girth, body length, wither height, chest width and hip width did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between the groups. The overall milk DMI, average concentrate intake (g/d, g/kg LW, g/kg W0.75), average roughage intake (g/d, g/kg LW, g/kg W0.75) and average total dry matter intake (g/d, g/kg LW, g/kg W0.75) did not differ between the groups. The feed conversion efficiency was also similar between the groups. It is concluded that pulverized Jerusalem artichoke tuber supplementation up to 3 per cent of dry matter was not sufficient to bring about a positive impact on the growth performance of pre weaned calves.
• Dietary supplementation of Jerusalem artichoke as a prebiotic has no influence on the growth and feed conversion of pre-weaned calves.
• There was no adverse effect on overall milk DMI, average concentrate intake, average roughage intake and average total dry matter intake.
Jerusalem artichoke tuber, Growth performance, Prebiotic, Body conformation
