Dietary energy levels response on nutrient utilization, nitrogen balance and growth in Bhadawari buffalo calves

S Singh, S S Kundu*, B P Kushwaha and S B Maity

Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 28400, India
* National Dairy Rsearch Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001, India
singh.sultan@rediffmail.com

Abstract

Fifteen female Bhadawari buffalo calves with mean body weight 76.1±7.6 kg and age 8.1±0.53 months, randomly distributed in 3 groups (EL, EL1 and EL2) of 5 in each were fed CP and ME as per NRC (2001) in EL_, 20% less energy in EL1 and 20 % more energy in EL2 than EL through chaffed sorghum hay and iso-nitrogenous concentrate mixtures (18.5 % CP) of different energy density (2.2-3.04 M cal ME/kg DM) for more than 6 months to assess energy response on nutrients digestibility, N balance and growth performance .

DM intake (g/kg W^0.75 and % body weight) and nutrients utilization were comparable among the dietary groups; however, N balance (g/d) was 4-5 units more in EL and EL2 than EL1. Energy intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher in EL and EL2 than EL1, while the DCP contents were comparable among groups. Calves in EL2 (374.3) had significantly (P<0.05) higher growth rate than EL1 (298.4). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and crude protein conversion ration (CPCR) of EL2 diet for weight gain was higher (P>0.05) than diet EL1.

Results revealed no effect of energy level on feed intake and nutrients digestibility, however N balance and growth rate of buffalo calves decreased on reducing energy by 20%.  

Key words: energy density, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility, weight gain

Introduction

The age of puberty is particularly influenced by the diet energy level that enhances growth and sexual maturity. Nutrient requirements for milch buffalo breeds have been worked out for different physiological functions (Ranjhan and Pathak 1979;  Baruah et al 1983). Nutritional studies with NRC (1976) requirements had been carried out with varying levels of energy and protein in buffalo calves (Baruah et al 1988, Udeybir et al 2001, Basra et al 2003, Paul and Patil 2007).  Bhadawari a small to medium size buffalo breed known for its high fat contents, can thrive on poor quality feeds and is resistance to heat and diseases than other buffalo milch breeds. No systematic effort has been made on the nutrient requirement of Bhadawari buffalo calves.  Nutrient needs of buffaloes in tropical regions differ from dairy cattle of temperate regions because of differences in breed size, production level, feeds, climate and digestive physiology. In the present study equations described to calculate energy and protein requirements of NRC (2001) for small breed cattle calves (90-100 kg body weight and 7-9 months age) gaining 0.4 kg /d were used to assess their validity in growing Bhadawari buffalo calves for 0.4kg/d weight gain.

Material and methods 

Animals and diets

Fifteen female Bhadawari buffalo calves selected from its herd maintained at IGFRI, Jhansi under Network Project on buffaloes, were randomly distributed into 3 groups (EL, EL1 and EL2) with 5 in each based on their mean body weight (76.1±7.62) and age (8.1±0.53 months). Animal’s were offered ad lib chaffed sorghum hay and iso-nitrogenous concentrate mixtures (CM) of different energy density (CM1: 2.56, CM2: 2.20 and CM3: 3.04 M cal) to meet their energy and protein requirements in EL (NRC, 2001), EL1 (20% less ME than EL) and EL2 (20% more ME than EL Table 1).

The CP and ME requirement of calves were calculated (maintenance and growth) for 400 g daily growth rate using NRC (2001) equations. The CP content of the chaffed sorghum hay was 5.6 while that of concentrate mixtures varied from 18.4 to 18.70 % (Table 2).

Concentrate mixtures were identical in NDF, however ADF and cellulose contents were relatively higher in concentrate mixture of EL (19.21 and 10.97) than EL1 (12.09 and 6.53) and EL2 (11.87 and 8.07 %).

Animals were offered concentrate mixture between 9-9:30 am followed by chaffed sorghum hay and watered twice at 11-11.30 am and again 3-3.30 pm. The feed intake was recorded weekly during the experimental period, while body weight was recorded monthly using electronic platform balance and amount of concentrate was increased as per the change in their body weight. Animals were maintained on these dietary treatments for more than 6 months (13^th August, 2004 to 25^th February, 2005) and growth rate was calculated for 184 days. 

Digestion-cum –metabolism trial

A digestion cum metabolism trial of 6 days duration was conducted after 90 days of feeding. Animals were trained for manual faeces and urine collection for 3-4 days prior to actual sampling of feces and urine.  Faeces and urine of individual animal was collected for 24 hours and pooled in plastic buckets and cans, respectively. Representative samples of faeces for DM (1/50 aliquot) and N (1/100 aliquot preserved in 20% H₂ SO₄) estimation were collected for individual animal during the trial. A fixed volume (5 ml) of urine was pooled in digestion flasks (having concentrated sulphuric acid) for individual animal during the collection period. Samples of feed offered (chaffed sorghum and concentrate mixtures) and residue were also collected daily and representative samples were kept for DM estimation. Dried samples of feces, feeds offered and left overs were ground through 2 mm sieve using electrically operated grinding mill. Ground samples were stored in plastic containers and used for further chemical and biochemical estimations.

Analytical techniques

DM, ash, EE, and CP of feeds offered, left overs and faeces samples were estimated as per AOAC (1990), while for cell wall constituents (NDF, ADF, Cellulose and lignin) estimation method of Van Soest et al (1991) was followed. DM digestibility values were used to estimate digestible energy (DE Kcal/ kg) using the regression equation reported by Fonnesbeck et al (1984). The DE values were converted to ME using the formula reported by Khalil et al (1986).The data on intake, nutrients digestibility, N balance, growth rate was analyzed for analysis of variance by GLM procedure of SPSS computer programme as per Snedecor and Cochran (1968).

Results and discussion  

Feed intake and nutrient digestibility

The DMI of animals in all the groups was similar both on % body weight and g/kg W ^0.75 during the digestibility trial (Table 3).

Mahmoudzadeh et al (2007) observed no effect of protein level on feed intake but the energy levels significantly (P<0.05) affected the DMI in male buffalo calves. On the other hand Basra et al (2003) observed no difference in DMI of buffalo calves fed rations of different energy and protein concentrations. Besides the physical and chemical characteristics of the ration (Keshab et al 2002), the feed and DMI is mostly affected by the energy concentration in the diet (Nair et al 2004;  Puri et al 2004). The DMI of calves in present study was relatively higher than the earlier reports (Udeybir et al 2000; Singh et al 2003). This variation in DMI could be related to the age and size of animals as well as nutritional management and environmental conditions (Jasiorowski 1988; Thevamanoharan et al 2001; Ahmad et al 2002).  ME intake (M cal/d) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in EL and EL2 than EL1, while CP intake was comparable among the groups. Higher energy density and non- significantly (P>0.05) more DMI might have contributed to higher ME intake in these groups.

The DM, OM, CP and hemi cellulose digestibility was comparable amongst the groups (Table 3). However, NDF, ADF and cellulose digestibility was non-significantly higher in EL2 (55.9, 49.4 and 62.9) than EL (52.6, 45.3 and 59.6) and EL1 (53.9, 46.3 and 60.5%). Baruah et al (1988) also recorded no effect of energy levels on nutrients utilization in Murrah buffalo calves.

Nitrogen balance, growth rate and feed efficiency

Buffalo calves irrespective of dietary energy levels were in positive N balance, though the urinary-N loss was highest in EL1 (10.9 g/d, Table 4) than in other groups.

This indicated the poor efficiency of protein utilization in calves fed on low energy diet. N % absorption was 8-12 units less in low energy diet (EL1) than standard (EL) and 20%more energy diet (EL2). Positive N balance in buffalo calves on different energy diets reported by   Baruah et al (1988) substantiates the present results. Monthly body weight gain was higher in December (Figure 1) in all the groups and continued up to February; however calves in group EL2 recorded higher weight gain than other groups throughout 184 days of study period.

 The mean body weight gain (g/d) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in EL2 (374.3) than EL1 (298.4) but similar to control group EL (368.5 g/d Table 4). Baruah et al (1988) also observed that energy levels significantly affect the daily gain of buffalo calves. Highest growth rate at 20 % more energy diet in the present study corroborates with the results of Basra et al (2003) who recorded maximum weight gain in buffalo calves fed medium protein-high energy diet.

Dietary energy influenced the feed conversion ratio (FCR) as it varied 7.25-8.49 being lowest in group EL1. Similarly, the CP conversion ratio (CPCR) was lowest in group EL1. The feed conversion ratio for different energy and protein diets was reported in range of 6.9-7.6 with CPCR in range of 0.7-1.0; respectively by Mahmoudzadeh et al (2007) in male buffalo calves substantiate the present observations. Feed efficiency reported by Basra et al (2003) in Nili-Ravi buffalo calves also corroborates to present findings.

Conclusions 

• From these results it was inferred that energy level did not affect the intake and nutrients digestibility in buffalo calves, however N utilization and growth rate decreased on reducing the dietary energy by 20 %.

Acknowledgements 

Authors are thankful to Director IGFRI, Jhansi for providing facilities to carry out the work.  Authors are equally thankful to PC (Network Project Buffaloes), CIRB Hisar for financial support to maintain the animals at the Institute. 

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Received 8 April 2009; Accepted 14 April 2009; Published 5 August 2009

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