Dietary energy levels response on nutrient utilization, nitrogen balance and growth in Bhadawari buffalo calves

摘要

FifteenfemaleBhadawaribuffalocalveswithmeanbodyweight76.1±7.6kgandage8.1±0.53months,randomlydistributedin3groups(EL,EL1andEL2)of5ineachwerefedCPandMEasperNRC(2001)inEL,20%lessenergyinEL1and20%moreenergyinEL2thanELthroughchaffedsorghumhayandiso-nitrogenousconcentratemixtures(18.5%CP)ofdifferentenergydensity(2.2-3.04McalME/kgDM)formorethan6monthstoassessenergyresponseonnutrientsdigestibility,Nbalanceandgrowthperformance.nbsp;DMintake(g/kgW0.75and%bodyweight)andnutrientsutilizationwerecomparableamongthedietarygroups;however,Nbalance(g/d)was4-5unitsmoreinELandEL2thanEL1.Energyintakewassignificantly(P0.05)higherinELandEL2thanEL1,whiletheDCPcontentswerecomparableamonggroups.CalvesinEL2(374.3)hadsignificantly(P0.05)highergrowthratethanEL1(298.4).Feedconversionratio(FCR)andcrudeproteinconversionration(CPCR)ofEL2dietforweightgainwashigher(P0.05)thandietEL1.nbsp;Resultsrevealednoeffectofenergylevelonfeedintakeandnutrientsdigestibility,howeverNbalanceandgrowthrateofbuffalocalvesdecreasedonreducingenergyby20%.nbsp;