Comparative Evaluation of Cotton Seed Meal and Sunflower Seed Meal in Urea Molasses Blocks Versus Commercial Concentrate as Supplement to Basal Ration of Wheat Straw with Stall-fed Buffalo Calves

I H Mirza,A G Khan,M I Anjum,A Azim

doi:10.5713/ajas.2004.193

Abstract

Eighteen water buffalo calves of Nili-Ravi breed (about 15 months age and of 147′12 kg average body weight and mixed sex) were used with six animals on each treatment. All the animals were fed long wheat straw for ad libitum intake as the basal ration. Animals in group-1 were supplemented with ad libitum amount of urea molasses block having cotton seed meal (CSMB) while the animals in group-II were supplemented with ad libitum urea molasses block containing sunflower seed meal (SFMB) and group III animals were supplemented with a fixed amount of commercial concentrate feed (CCF). The experiment lasted for a period of 80 days (April to June). Results revealed a significantly decreased total feed intake (wheat straw+supplements) in group-III (1,666′52 g/h/d) as compared to group 1 (2,299′194 g/h/d) and group-II (2,193′230 g/h/d). Average daily supplement intakes were 891′87; 666′104 and 593′0 grams per head in group I, II and III, respectively. Supplement intakes among groups were different (p<0.05). Average daily body weight gains (g/h) were 214′25, 174′23 and 183′24 for group I, II and III, respectively. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was found to be 10.74′1.12, 12.60′0.88 and 9.90′1.33 grams for group No. I, II and III, respectively. The economic net benefit of live weight gain of calves were 7.63, 6.11 and 7.33 rupees/h/d for group No. I, II and III, respectively. Thus SFM can replace CSM and urea molasses blocks can replace commercial concentrates as supplement to basal ration of wheat straw.

Highlights

A major constraint to the production of ruminants on small holder farms throughout the tropics, especially during the dry season, is that the roughage feeds provided are unbalanced in terms of energy, protein and minerals
Buffalo calves in group I were supplemented with ad libitum amount of urea molasses block having cotton seed meal as protein supplement (CSMB), while the animals in group II were supplemented with ad libitum urea molasses block containing sunflower seed meal as protein supplement (SFMB), and the group III animals were supplemented with a fixed amount of commercial concentrate feed (CCF)
Calves supplemented with cotton seed meal as vegetable protein source (CSMB) (Group 1) consumed 1,408±150 grams of wheat straw per head per day

Summary

Introduction

A major constraint to the production of ruminants on small holder farms throughout the tropics, especially during the dry season, is that the roughage feeds provided are unbalanced in terms of energy, protein and minerals. They are lignified, bulky and their digestibility is low (Preston and Leng, 1987). This limits feed intake, rumen fermentation, and productivity Their use can be improved by providing a supplement of fermentable carbohydrates, nitrogen and minerals combined with a small amount of nutrients that by-pass the rumen (Preston and Leng, 1987; Sansoucy et al, 1992). Supplementation of cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats fed a basal feed of cereal straw, lignified grass and/or maize stover with urea-molasses blocks (UMB) has been shown to increase milk yield and reduce feed costs of cows and buffaloes in India

Methods

Results

Conclusion