Abstract
Twenty-four (24) Holstein Friesian-Sahiwal crossbred growing dairy bull calves with average weight of 87.30 kg were used to evaluate the effect of feeding water hyacinth (WH) on the Body Weight Gain (BWG) of growing dairy bull calves at the Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI), Dairy Farm, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines (UPLB), College, Laguna from August 2017 to December 2017. WH at 0, 10, 20 and 40% dry matter (DM) basis substitution of Napier grass in the total mixed ration (TMR) served as treatments in six (6) randomized complete blocks, each block consisting of calves at the same weight range. WH at 40% caused increased DM intake in calves but feeding WH to calves did not affect body weight (BW) gain of the calves. Therefore, WH can be used as an alternative feed source at an inclusion rate of 10-20% dry matter basis substitution of Napier grass.
Highlights
Cattle is one of the most common animals raised in rural areas
Body weights of calves increased from Week 0 to Week 14 across treatments except at Week 2 at 10% inclusion rate of water hyacinth (WH) where a slight decrease was observed
Body weights were not affected by treatments, suggesting that increasing inclusion levels of WH into the total mixed ration (TMR) did not affect body weight
Summary
Cattle is one of the most common animals raised in rural areas. These mammals are of great importance to humans because aside from producing meat and milk, they can be used as draft animals in small farmlands. The ruminant industry is challenged by the decreasing pasture area and the availability of forage during the dry season. Water hyacinth (WH) is considered as an alternative feed source for ruminants due to increasing prices of feeds. Considering WH as an alternative feed source for ruminants is vital and timely since the ruminant industry is being challenged by the decreasing pasture areas due to land use conversion and that feeds are becoming more expensive. Alternative feed sources are important during dry season when forage for ruminants are scarce. In Northern Samar, Philippines, farmers are already using water hyacinth as feed for cattle, carabaos and pigs. They chop the whole plant, cook and add sweet potato leaves, hogwash and salt. The study aimed to determine the body weight gain (BWG), of growing dairy bull calves fed different inclusion rates of WH
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
