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

Abstract

A experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance 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 weight gain for F1 treatment group for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th group of animals was 1.66±1.60, 3.50±1.56, 2.66±0.0.66 and 3.33±0.61 respectively. Weight gains for F2 group of animals were 0.33 0.61, 4.00±1.84, 2.33±0.67, 3.66±0.67 respectively. For F3 group it was 0.50±0. 56a, 3.33±0.55b, 2.83±0.70ab, 3.66±0.80b respectively for all the four groups. Weight gains for F4 group were 1.66±1.49, 6.66±1.60, 6.16±0.49, 6.5±0.70 respectively for all the four groups. Weight gains for F5 treatment group were 1.50±0.67a, 7.00±0.70b, 6.00±1.12ab, 5.5±0.62b respectively. Weight gains for 6th group of animals were 1.66±0.98, 5.55±1.52, 4.83±0.83, 5.33±0.49 respectively for all the groups. It was evident from the weight gains that complete feeding of treated feed with urea and molasses is however not good but feeding in half proportions to the animals with fresh green fodder nowhere diminished the performance and in fact reduced the feeding cost as well as utilized the waste.