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

Abstract

In order to reduce the cost of feeding in crossbred dairy cattle experiment was conducted with a total of 24 crossbred animals (8-12 months of age). Animals were 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 feeding cost per animal at farm was 80Rs. under normal circumstances whereas feeding cost in 1st group was 36Rs, 37Rs, 70Rs, 70Rs, 35Rs, 69Rs respectively in F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6 groups. Which gave a reduction of 44Rs, 43Rs, 10Rs, 10Rs, 45Rs, 11 Rs. respectively. For 2nd group it was 50Rs, 51Rs, 70Rs, 71Rs, 50Rs, 70Rs respectively for F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6 treatment groups which gave a reduction of 30Rs, 29Rs, 10Rs, 9Rs, 30Rs, 10Rs respectively and for 3rd group it was 60Rs, 61Rs, 75Rs, 75Rs, 60Rs, 75Rs for F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 and F6 treatment groups respectively which gave a reduction of 20Rs, 19Rs, 5Rs, 5Rs, 20Rs and 5Rs respectively. These data clearly shows that there was significant reduction in feeding cost of animals.