Productive performance and some blood parameters of buffalo calves raised on different feeding regimes from birth till weaning

Abstract: Twenty one newly born male and female buffalo calves (12 males + 9 females) were divided depending on weight and sex into three similar groups. The effects of replacing half the requirements of buffalo milk with either soybean meal and ground corn or linseed meal and ground corn mixtures on their productive performance and some blood serum parameters were studied Calves received experimental diets when 3 days of age up to weaning at 15 weeks of age. The first two weeks were considered as adaptation period The experimental diets were as follows:
. Group A: 100 % of allowances from buffalo milk (Control).
. Group B: 50 % of allowances from buffalo milk plus 500/6 of allowances from a concentrate mixture 1 which comprised 70 % ground soybean meal and 30% ground corn.
. Group C: 50 % of allowances from buffalo milk plus 50 % of allowances from a concentrate mixture 2 which comprised 65 % ground linseed meal and 35% ground corn.
Calves were fed milk individually while soild feeds (starter and berseem hay) were fed ad libitum in groups from the start of the trial till weaning at 15 weeks with water available all time. Daily feed intake (for each group) and weekly body weight (for each calf) were recorded. At 15th weeks of age three digestibility trials were carried out using 3 male calves in each. Blood samples were collected at ages 15, 60 and 105 days and total protein, globulin and total lipids were determined
Results indicated the following
. Dry matter, CP and EE digestibilities of group A were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those for the other groups.
. Calves of group A had the highest values of average daily intake as DM, TDN and CP while group C had the lowest one.
. No significant effect of feeding regime was found on daily gain of buffalo calves.
. Calves of group B had the best feed conversion as Kg DM, TDN and CP/kg gain, meanwhile, group A expressed the poorest one.
. Blood analysis showed significant increase in concentration of globulin in group C and AST activity in group B when compared with the others.
Meanwhile concentration of total protein, albumin, total lipids and ALT activity did not exhibit any differences. Such blood traits tend to increase with the advance of age, except for blood globulin and ALT enzyme activity where the contrary was true.
. Less feeding cost of kg gain was recorded for groups Band C, while the most expensive kg gain cost was that for group A.
It be concluded that, both conventional and non conventional raising. Of buffalo calves are equally effective for enhancing preweaning calves growth Therefore, up to 50% of buffalo milk of suckling buffalo calves can be replaced by, either concentrate mixture 1, (70% ground soybean meal and 30% ground corn) or concentrate mixture 2 (65% ground linseed meal and 35% ground corn) without any adverse effects on productive performance and, some blood serum parameters. Reducing feeding costs due to reduction of the amount of suckling milk, may help in the relief of the problem of milk shortage in Egypt.
Keywords: Suckling buffalo calves, soybean meal, linseed meal, corn, flour, performance, total protein, total lipids

Publication year

2008

Pages

515-528

Availability location

معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى-شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة

Availability number

Organization Name

Animal Production Research Institute (APRI)

serial title

Egyptian Journal of Animal Production

ISSN