Evaluation of Mineral Mixture and Mineral Bricks on Growth Performance of Crossbred Calves

摘要

The present investigation was undertaken to study the comparative evaluation of mineral mixture and mineral bricks on growth performance of calves. Six crossbred calves (Sahiwal x Jersey) between age group of 12 to 14 months were selected and maintained at Animal Husbandry and Dairying Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur and randomly divided into two equal groups of 3 calves having average body weight of 111.57 ± 1.13 kg and fed two dietary treatments viz. Tx: 1 kg concentrate mixture + mineralbricks licking and T2: 1 kg concentrate mixture + 15 g mineral mixture. 1 kg green jowar kadbi and soybean straw ad lib were also given to 2 groups for a period of 56 days. The animals were fed individually as per the requirement (Ranjhan, 1998), in switch over manner for a period of 28 days. 10 days gap was given to nullify the feeding effect. The mineral supplement available in the market in the form of mixture and bricks, prepared in this section was used. Animals were offered fresh and clean drinking water. Daily water intake of each calf was recorded throughout the investigation. Body measurements (height, length and chest girth) of all the claves were also recorded in the beginning and thereafter at the end of each period. The data were subjected to statistical analysis, as per the procedure given by Snedecor and Cochran (1994).