EFFECT OF FEEDING PALMYRA (Borassus flabellifer) SEED HUSK AND SUGAR CANE (Saccharum officinarum) BAGASSE AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF GREEN GRASS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE IN CROSSBRED CALVES.

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of replacement of green grass with palmyra seed husk and sugar cane bagasse in complete feed at 50 per cent level on growth in crossbred calves. Three complete rations having 70:30 concentrate: roughages ratio, with grass (Tl), 50 per cent replacement of grass with palmyra seed husk (T2) and 50 per cent replacement of grass with sugar cane bagasse (T3) on dry matter basis, as roughage source were prepared and evaluated for their nutritive value. Eighteen healthy female crossbred calves with six to seven months of age were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments Tl, T2 and T3 and fed with respective experimental rations as per NRC (2001) for a period of 90 days. The fortnightly body weight of all the experimental animals were measured throughout the experimental period. Total body weight gain of calves of the three treatments during the experimental period was 43.40, 36.78 and 42.38 Kg, respectively and the average daily gain was 516.66, 437.89 and 504.56 g, respectively for the three treatments Tl, T2 and T3. There was no significant difference in the fortnightly body weight and average daily gain. Hence the study indicates that the calves could be raised on 50 per cent replacement of green grass with palmyra seed husk or sugarcane bagasse. However, the feed efficiency was significantly poor in calves fed with Palmyra seed husk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]