Vol. 9, Issue 5, Part H (2024)

Author(s): Shivmala R Yewale, Dr. PA Kahate, Dr. KU Bidwe, Dr. SD Chavan and Dr. SP Nage

Abstract: An experiment was conducted at Livestock Instructional Farm, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science Dr. P.D.K.V. Akola during 2023-2024. Daily body weight gain differed significantly between the treatments. The daily weight gain kg/day under the treatment T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ were 0.180, 0.189, 0.204 and 0.191 kg, respectively. The total body weight gain in overall experimental period of 120 days in T_1, T₂, T₃ and T₄ were 21.59, 22.72, 24.55 and 22.90 kg, respectively. This trend thus indicated that there was increase in the body weight when kalmegh powder was supplemented in the rations of indigenous calves. The corresponding values for feed cost per kg body weight gain were Rs. 560.52, 548.16, 522.65 and 556.43 in treatment T_1, T_2, T₃ and T₄ group respectively. The cost of feeding/day/calf was 20.17, 20.76, 21.38 and 21.23 under T_1, T_2, T₃ and T₄ group respectively. The highest weight gain also observed in T₃ (24.55 kg); hence it is economical for farmers. But the cost of BW gain per kg per calf was observed Rs. 112.10, 109.63, 104.53 and 111.28 in treatment T_1, T_2, T₃ and T₄ group respectively. The cost of gain in BW per kg per calf was lowest in treatment T_3.