COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE NUTRITIVE VALUES OF OATS AND MAIZE SILAGES IN CROSSBRED GROWING CALVES

摘要

Twelve numbers of growing crossbred calves of uniform age and body weight (6-8 months and 72.25+-0.53kg) were randomly divided in to two groups of six calves in each and fed individually on ad libitum quantities of oats silage (T_1) vis-a-vis maize silage (T_2) for a period of 90 days. The daily average as well as the percent of body weight of the dry matter intake did not vary significantly; however, the intake per kg metabolic body weight in group T_1 was significantly lower (75.46+-2.31g/ day) incomparison to group T_2 (101.06+-4.31g/day). The DCP and TDN contents of both the silages were not significant from each other though the values were higher in oats silage (4.25+-0.05and 62.55+-0.19) in comparison to the maize silage (3.53+-0.05 and 55.02+-0.47). The ADG of the cahves did not varies significantly between the groups though the efficiency of feeding observed in T_1 (9.94+-0.83) group was significantly better compare to group (15.25+-2.32). Significantly lower cost of feeding per kg gain was recorded in the calves with oats silage (Rs. 42.68/kg gain) in comparison to calves fed with maize silage (Rs. 68.85/kg gain) indicating oats silage have better effect on the growth performances, nutrient digestibility and cost efficiency in comparison to maize silage in crossbred growing calves.