Effect of different level of energy on growth performance of crossbred bull calves

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different levels of energy on growth performance of crossbred (Indigenous × Holstein Friesian) bull calves. Feeding trial was conducted for sixty days long with twelve numbers of crossbred bull calves having almost similar body weight (115±5 kg) and age (1 year and 9 months). The parameters of energy requirements for crossbred bull calves were feed intake (DM), nutrient intake, changes in body weight, daily live weight changes, feed conversion efficiency, co-efficient of digestibility of different nutrients, nutritive value and requirements of energy for maintenance and growth. Four levels of dietary energy (T_0, T_1, T₂ and T₃) were supplied to the experimental animals for this purpose. The level of ME was T₀ = 17.4 MJ/d as maintenance ration, T₁ = 20.22 MJ/d for 200 g/d targeted LWG, T₂ = 23.37 MJ/d for 400 g/d targeted LWG, T₃ = 27.29 MJ/d for 600 g/d targeted LWG. It was found that the average daily live weight gain in T₁ (290 g) fulfills against the targeted live weight gain (200 g/d). On the other hand, the expected live weight gain for T₂ and T₃ (400 g/ d and 600 g/d) were not fulfill at the end of experiment. The energy requirement for 100 kg body weight of crossbred bull calves was 17.4 MJ d^-1 as maintenance and 15.44 MJ d^-1 required for growth of 200g/ d.

Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2016, 1 (2), 246-254