Effect of feeding rumen undegradable protein and supplemental energy on growth performance and blood metabolites in growing kids Sahoo B.*, Walli T.K. National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001, India. *Reprint request: Dr. B. Sahoo, Instructional Dairy Farm, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 149, India, E-mail: biswanath_72@yahoo.co.in
Abstract In an experiment of 120 days duration, twenty healthy growing male kids (Sannen x Beetal and Alpine x Beetal) of 2–3 months of age, weighing 12±0.73 kg were divided into 4 equal groups (T1 to T4) in a randomized block design. Two types of isonitrogenous and isocaloric concentrate mixtures (CM-I and CM-II) were fed to group T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively The two concentrate mixtures were similar in composition except RDP:UDP ratio (73:27 and 59:41). Animals in T2 and T4 were additionally supplemented with molasses at the rate (8% CM on DM basis). All the animals were fed roughages (Berseem:wheat straw i.e. 2:1) to meet 50 per cent of DM intake. Blood samples were collected at 40, 80 and 120 days of post feeding and plasma samples were analysed. Plasma albumin and α-AAN levels were highest (P<0.05) in group T4, fed high UDP along with energy. However, plasma urea concentration was lower (P<0.05) in group T3 and T4 than T1 at 80 and 120 days of post feeding. DM intake in control group was lower (P<0.01) than to other 3 groups. Average daily gain (ADG) recorded was 47.6, 52.3, 62.9 and 71.4 in groups T1, T2 and T4, respectively, with the values being significantly higher (P<0.05) in T4 than in group T1, but at par with T2 and T3. Feed conversion efficiency was also significantly higher (P<0.05) in group T4 (10.14) than T1 (7.28) and T2 (7.47) but similar with T3 (9.35). It is thus inferred that additional supply of energy in the form of molasses along with undegradable protein positively influenced the growth rate and feed conversion efficiency without any significant effect on blood metabolites. Top Key words Mustard cake, Undegradable protein, Molasses, Blood metabolites, Kids. Top |