IMPACT OF CONCENTRATES WITH VARYING LEVEL OF METABOLIZEABLE ENERGY AND CRUDE PROTEIN ON GROWTH RATE AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITIY IN MALE BUFFALO GROWING CALVES

Abstract

Twenty buffalo male calves of Nili Ravi breed with 10-12 months of age and 100+ 10 kg of weight were enrolled in this research to see the effect of different levels of crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) on dry matter intake (DMI), growth rate and digestibility of nutrients in male buffalo calves. Four experimental rations A, B, C and D were prepared with two levels of CP i.e. 16.0 and 18.0% along with two varying levels of ME i.e. 2.82 & 2.94 Mcal/kg. The animals were individually fed with ad libitum feeding. Buffalo calves who had consumed B&D diets containing 2.94 Mcal/ had higher feed intake (DM basis) kilogram/day and weight gain but the difference was non significant statistically(P>0.05) among all the treatment groups. However, feed conversion efficiency was significantly different (P<0.05) among the treatments and was better in calves who had consumed diets A &C comprising 2.82 Mcal/kg).DMI digestibility were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the animals fed on diet having high levels of energy other than low energy level while digestibility of CP was significant (P<0.05) among the different groups however and NDF digestibility was almost same in all groups showing non significant difference (P<0.05).It was concluded that Nili Ravi male buffalo calves require more metabolizable energy than beef cattle as endorsed by NRC (2001).