Effect of milk replacer and early weaning diets on growth performance of buffalo calves during weaning period

This study was designed to examine the cost effective feeding system of buffalo male calves for quality meat production. Twelve buffalo male calves of 15-21 days of age and 41 plus minus 2 kg body weight (BW) were randomly divided into three equal groups. Group A was fed milk replacer (MR) @ 8% of B...

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Published inPakistan veterinary journal Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 23 - 26
Main Authors Azim, A. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Animal Sciences Inst.), Khan, A.G. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Animal Sciences Inst.), Anjum, M.I. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Animal Sciences Inst.), Nadeem, M.A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 01.01.2011
Subjects
ANIMAL FEEDING
BODY WEIGHT
Buffalo calves
CALVES
Carcass characteristics
CARCASS COMPOSITION
DIGESTIBILITY
DRESSING PERCENTAGE
FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY
FEED INTAKE
GROWTH
Growth performance
MILK REPLACERS
Nutrient digestibility
WATER BUFFALOES
WEANING FEEDS
WEIGHT GAIN
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Summary:This study was designed to examine the cost effective feeding system of buffalo male calves for quality meat production. Twelve buffalo male calves of 15-21 days of age and 41 plus minus 2 kg body weight (BW) were randomly divided into three equal groups. Group A was fed milk replacer (MR) @ 8% of BW for the entire period of 90 days, group B was fed MR @ 4% of BW + early weaning diet (EWD) on ad libitum and group C was fed MR @ 4% of BW + EWD for first 45 days and later on EWD only. Average weight gain was 0.42, 0.46 and 0.52 Kg/d and dry matter intake was 0.65, 0.72 and 1.00 kg/d in groups A, B and C, respectively and the difference was significant (P less than 0.01). Feed efficiency was superior (P less than 0.01) for group A (1.55) and B (1.62) compared to C (1.94). Feed cost per kg weight gain of group C was 52 and 25% less than calves in group A and B, respectively. In trial I (at 8th week), digestibility of both DM and CP was higher (P less than 0.01) in group A (96.28
Bibliography:CATPAK-74773
L02
ISSN:0253-8318