Nutritive Value Index and Nutrient Digestibility of Leguminous Hay Diets

Nutritive value index (NVI) and nutrient digestibilities were determined in rumen fistulated cross-bred (Brown Swiss x Sahiwal) calves on ad lib feeding of cowpea (experiment I) and berseem (experiment II) hay with or without pretreatment with formaldehyde (2 per cent of CP) as protein protecting agent. In each experiment, 6 animals were divided into three equal groups. In experiment I, group A animals were fed on untreated cowpea hay, group B on formaldehyde treated cowpea hay and group C on untreated cowpea hay offered with synthe tic saliva (6 litres each in the morning and evening before offering water). In experiment II, similar treatment groups D, E and F were made on resorting to berseem hay feeding instead of cowpea hay. DMI and NVI were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in group C as compared to groups A and B in experiment I and in group F than groups D and E in experiment II. The DM, OM, CP, CF and NFE digestibilities were higher (P < 0.05) in C and F groups than other groups. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) N balance was observed in group C and F than other groups under the respective experiment. This indicated that on providing synthetic saliva, the N economy of the animals improved than on feeding untreated or formaldehyde treated leguminous hays.