Palatability assessment of treated feed with certain ingredients in crossbred dairy cattle under sub-tropical conditions

Abstract

A total of 24 crossbred animals (8-12 months of age) were selected and randomly allocated to four different groups(6 animals per group) viz. Group-1 (Gr-1): 100% treated leftover feed; Group-2(Gr-2): 75% treated feed; Group-3 (Gr-3): 50% treated feed and Group-4(Gr-4) or Control: 100% green fodder. The leftover feed F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-5 and F-6 were treated with combination of 1% urea+5% molasses+0.5% salt, 1% urea+5% molasses+1% salt, 1% urea+10% molasses+0.5% salt, 1% urea+10% molasses+1% salt, 5% molasses+0.5% salt and 10% molasses+0.5% salt, respectively. The average palatability score of animals for F-1 feed in Gr-1, Gr-2, Gr-3 and Control was 3.43, 1.56, 1.53 and 1.00, respectively. The average palatability score of animals for F-2 feed in Gr-1, Gr-2, Gr-3 and Control were 2.79, 1.52, 1.50 and 1.00, respectively. The average palatability score of animals for F-3 feed in Gr-1, Gr-2, Gr-3 and Control were 2.66, 1.43, 1.40 and 1.00, respectively. The average palatability score of animals for F-4 feed in Gr-1, Gr-2, Gr-3 and Control were 3.06, 2.36, 2.06 and 1.00, respectively. The average palatability score of animals for F-5 feed in Gr-1, Gr-2, Gr-3 and Control were 3.10, 1.70, 1.66 and 1.00, respectively. The average palatability score of animals for F-5 feed in Gr-1, Gr-2, Gr-3 and Control were 3.10, 1.70, 1.66 and 1.00, respectively. The average palatability score of animals for F-6 feed in Gr-1, Gr-2, Gr-3 and Control were 3.10, 1.96, 1.83 and 1.00, respectively. The palatability score was found significantly (P