Effect of dietary incorporation of green pea (Pisum sativum l.) Pods on body weight gain, nutrient utilization and haemato-biochemical constituents in crossbred female calves

Abstract

A feeding trail was conducted to discern the effect of dietary incorporation of green pea pods vis-a-vis conventional mixed green fodder in crossbred female calves on growth, nutrient utilization and certain haemato-biochemical constituents for 60 days. Sixteen crossbred female calves (9-12 months of age with average body weight of 105±6.31 kg) were divided into two groups of eight each after an adaptation period of 10 days. The crossbred female calves of group I were fed with concentrate mixture @ 1.0 kg per day and mixed green fodder (containing green oats, green berseem and green mustard approximately in 1:1:1 ratio) with wheat straw @ 10:1 ratio on fresh basis and the calves in group II were fed with concentrate mixture @1.0 kg per day and green pea pods mixed with wheat straw in 10:1 ratio on fresh basis. The mixed green fodder contained 25.97% dry matter and 13.78% crude protein on dry matter basis, whereas green pea pods contained 29.87% dry matter and 17.25% crude protein on dry matter basis. The average daily body weight gains in calves of group I and group II were 695.83±73.58 g and 650.00±39.96 g, respectively. Calves of group I had significantly (P