The effect of feeding hydroponics maize fodder on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in cross bred calves

Abstract

A study was undertaken to assess the effect of feeding hydroponic fodder maize on growth performance in cross-bred calves. Fifteen healthy cross-bred calves of three months age were selected and were divided into three groups of five each based on their age, sex and body weight. They were allotted randomly to three experimental treatments T1 (control), T2 (50% of the calf starter was replaced by hydroponic maize fodder on dry matter (DM) basis), T3 (75% of the calf starter was replaced by hydroponic maize fodder on DM basis). All the experimental animals were fed with calf starter containing 24% CP and 70% TDN and the feeding trial was conducted for a period of 90 days. The results of the experiment showed that calf starter can be replaced with hydroponic maize fodder on DM basis at 75% level without any adverse effect on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in cross-bred calves.