Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of feeding crop residue based complete rations on nutrient utilization compared to conventional system of feeding. In 4 x 4 LSD, four graded Murrah buffalo bulls (5 yrs; 350 ± 9.36 kg BW) were offered three iso-nitrogenous complete rations comprising of locally available crop residues viz. maize stover (T 1 ), red gram straw (T 2 ) and black gram straw (T 3 ) and concentrates in 60:40 ratio and compared with a conventional ration (C) comprising of 5.0 kg hybrid napier, 4.0 kg paddy straw and 1.5 kg concentrate mixture. The buffalo bulls were fed 6.0 kg each of respective complete ration and conventional ration to meet the nutrient requirements (ICAR, 1998). The DM intake (kg/d) was similar in all the experimental rations. The digestibility (%) of CP, EE, CF, NDF, ADF, hemi-cellulose and cellulose were higher (P < 0.01) in buffalo bulls fed complete rations than those fed conventional ration. All the animals were in positive N, Ca and P balances. N retention (g/d) was higher (P < 0.01) in the animals fed complete rations compared to those fed conventional while the differences for calcium and phosphorus retentions (g/d) were not significant among the different experimental rations. Further, DCP and TDN intake per kgW 0.75 were higher (P < 0.05) in buffaloes fed crop residue based complete rations than those fed conventional ration. It can be concluded that feeding of crop residue based complete rations improved nutrient utilization in buffalo bulls when compared to conventional system of feeding.

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