Effect of complete feed with different roughages : Concentrate ratios on the performance of crossbred dairy calves

The trial was conducted for a period of eleven weeks on eighteen crossbred (Gir X H.F. and GirX Jersey) calves randomly divided into three equal groups on the basis of breed, sex and age and allotted to three feed treatments viz., conventional ration consisting of measured quantity of concentrate mixture and ad-lib chopped sorghum straw fed separately (R-1, control), complete feed (mash) containing roughage : concentrate ratio of 40:60 (R-2) or 60: 40 (R-3)fed ad-lib as sole source of feed. The growth performance, nutrient utilization and economics of feeding was studied. The differences in mean growth rate, feed intake andfeed:gain ratio in calves from all treatment groups were statistically non-significant. The digestibility of OM and NFE was higher for conventional ration when compared with other two complete feeds. Digestibility ofCP, EE and CFwas highest for R-3. The digestibility for all the nutrients studied was higher on R-3 in comparison with R-2. The TDN content ofR-1 ration was higher than R-2 and R-3 feeds however, DCP content of R-3 ration was higher than R-1 and R-2. The average daily TDN and DCP intake data revealed significant differences among various groups. The efficiency of feed utilization in terms of DM, TDN and DCP per kg gain was comparable. Feeding cost per kg gain in live weight was considerably lower in calvesfed with complete feed containing roughage: concentrate ratio of 40:60 (R-2) in comparison with conventional ration (R-1) and complete feed containing roughage : concentrate ratio of 60:40 (R3). It is concluded that the complete feed containing roughage : concentrate ratio of 40: 60 (R-2) can be successfully and economically used for feeding of growing calves without affecting their growth performance and nutrient utilization.