Growth Performance of Crossbred Heifers on Lathyrus (Lathyrus Sativus) Straw Feeding

摘要

India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses. This account 33 per cent of the total area and 22 per cent of the world production of pulses (Singhal, 2003). Pulse straws are rich source of various nutrients, minerals and contain certain unidentified factors, which stimulate microbial growth in rumen. The crop residues (straw of pulses and cereals) play an important role in the feeding of livestock and contribute 20 to 80 per cent of the dry matter intake of livestock during the different seasons. The farmers of Eastern Vidharbha region of Maharashtra cultivate lathyrus after paddy on residual moisture. The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of lathyrus straw feeding on growth performance of crossbred heifers.