Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Growing Calves with Urea Treated Wheat Straw Based Ration

An experiment was conducted for a period of 100 days to study the nutrient utilization, feed conversion efficiency, growth performance as well as economics of raising of male calves fed on ration based on urea treated wheat straw. Eight growing male calves of 5 to 6 month of age of 70 to 71 kg body weight were divided into two equal groups viz control (C) and Treatment (T). The animals of group C and group T fed ad lib wheat straw and urea treated wheat straw respectively along with the concentrate mixture. All the animals of both the group were provided with 1 kg green Lucerne. Wheat straw ensiled with 4% urea in 40% moisture for 21 days resulted in improvement in crude protein content from 3% to 8.77%. Significantly higher (p<0.05) nutrient intake (DM, CP, DCP) was observed in the group supplied with urea treated wheat straw. The digestibility of nutrients were also significantly higher (p<0.05) in T group. The average daily gain in body weight (ADG) was significantly higher (p<0.05) in T group (497.40+7.87) in comparison to C group (302.50+11.40). Better feed conversion ratio was recorded in the animals of group fed ration based on urea treated wheat straw (6.38+1.01). The cost per kg live weight gain in animals fed urea treated based ration was significantly (p<0.05) less (Rs 47.94+1.20)as compared to the control ration (Rs.62.08+1.45). It is concluded that calves can be efficiently and economically raised on urea treated wheat straw based ration.