Vol. 5, Issue 6, Part A (2020)

Author(s): Suraj Madavi, Priyanka Dahiwale, Pranjali Meshram and Swati More

Abstract: The study entitled “Effect of feeding jowar straw in combination with soybean straw on the growth performance of crossbred calves” was conducted for period of 90 day. Twenty Crossbred calves were divided into four groups on the nearness of age and weight. Four feeding treatment were studied namely T₁ (Jowar straw adlib + 3 kg berseem + 1kg concentrate), T₂ (50% Jowar straw adlib + 50% Soybean straw adlib + 3 kg berseem +0.750 kg concentrate), T₃ (Soybean straw adlib +3 kg berseem +0.500 kg concentrate) was fulfil requirement of sahiwal calves in all treatments. It was observed that soybean containing 7.15, 1.52, 38.29, 41.29, 11.86 per cent, CP, EE, NFE, CF and ash while jowar straw was containing 3.37, 2.48, 43.50, 36.23, and 14.42 per cent CP, EE, NFE, CF and ash respectively. Daily DM intake differed significantly between the treatments. The calves from T₂ groups consumed more DM than that of T₁ and T₃ calves. The average daily intake was 5.363, 5.388 and 5.355 kg/day/calves in T₁, T₂ and T₃ groups respectively. This trend thus indicated that there was increase in the daily DM intake when jowar straw was incorporated as roughage in the rations of calves. Weight gain per day was found higher in combination feeding of jowar and soybean straw. All the calves exhibited satisfactory growth rate 312 to 336 g per day and differences were significant. The per kg gain of body weight was higher in T₂ treatment. It was over experimental result, the treatment T₂ showed better and desirable result as compared with T₁, T₃ treatment. There for feeding cost was desirable. Growth rate was higher in calves feed combination of jowar and soybean straw than sole feed of jowar and soybean straw was found economical for gain in weight in crossbred calves.