Feed intake and feed conversion efficiency of crossbred calves as an effect of fibrolytic microbes and enzymes

Abstract

Effect of fibrolytic microbes and enzymes on feed intake and feed efficiency was evaluated in cross-bred calves. Twenty crossbred (Holstein Friesian x Kankrej) calves were allotted to five treatments (each treatment had one male and three female calves) with similar body weight (85.70±6.37 kg) and age (167.55± 21.70 days). Experimental calves of control group were offered hybrid napier untreated and other groups were offered hybrid napier treated with fungus- Aspergillus spp. (1× 107 per g feed), fibrolytic bacteria-Escherichia spp. (106 CFU per g feed), xylanase (50 ml/kg having xylanase 1.2 IU/ml), and 1/3 dose of fungus + bacteria + enzyme. Nutrients intake of crossbred calves were sufficient to satisfy the nutrients requirements. Dry matter intake of cross-bred calves in bacteria (3.07±0.07) and enzyme (3.07±0.08) fed was statistically at par with control and consortia. Feeding effect of fungus, bacteria, enzyme and consortium on percent dry matter intake, dry matter intake per kg gain, DCP intake, percent DCP intake and DCP intake kg per body weight gain was not significant. While TDN intake was statistically (P<0.05) lower in bacterial fed (1.95±0.04) than control and fungus fed but at par with enzyme and consortium. Feed conversion efficiency in terms of DM, DCP and TDN were non-significant among the treatments. To conclude, isolated fibrolytic fungi, bacteria and enzyme were by and large not effective in improving feed intake and feed efficiency of cross-bred calves.