Feed intake and growth performance of crossbred dairy calves fed on a basal diet of wheat straw treated with urea-molasses, urea-lime, and effective microorganisms

Abstract

ABSTRACT The effects of various treatment options on the nutritional value of wheat straw as well as the growth performance of crossbred calves fed the treated wheat straw were evaluated. Twenty-four female calves (75% Friesian-Borana), weighing 99.3 ± 19.7 kg (aged 6–9 months), were divided into four groups of six animals using a randomized complete block design. The feeding trial lasted approximately 104 days. The dietary treatments were: untreated wheat straw (control T1), wheat straw treated with urea-molasses (T2), urea-lime (T3), and effective microorganisms (T4). Results showed that the treatment options affected the physical silage quality and chemical composition of wheat straw. Calves in the T3 and T4 groups had a higher daily DM intake (3.7 and 3.5 kg/head, respectively) than those in T2 (3.1 kg/head) and T1 (3.02 kg/head) groups. Calves in the T3 (422.7 g/d) and T4 (391 g/d) groups gained greater weight than those in the T2 (281.7 g/d) and T1 (204.4 g/d) groups (P < 0.001). Thus, improving the feed value of wheat straw with urea-lime or effective microorganisms treatment options suggested in this trial could result in cost-effective and significant growth performances when crossbred calves were supplemented with concentrate at a rate of 1.2% of their live weights.