Effect of dietary incorporation of different proportions of barley silage in total mixed ration on growth performance, nutrients utilization, and blood profile of Sahiwal cross Friesian calves
Received: 05 June 2024 / Accepted: 02 December 2024 / Published Online: 23 January 2025
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of barley silage inclusion in diet at different proportions on growth performance and blood parameters in Sahiwal cross Friesian calves, providing insights into the nutritional benefits and potential recommendations for calf diet formulations. The current investigation employing a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) was conducted with 16 Sahiwal x Friesian calves at the Government Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm Harichand, district Charsadda, Pakistan. Experimental calves used in this research were selected on the basis of nearly the same body weight and age. They were distributed into four treatment groups, each with four replicates: the control group (routine diet), total mixed ration(TMR)+20% barley silage, total mixed ration (TMR)+40% barley silage, and total mixed ration (TMR)+60% barley silage. The results revealed noteworthy variations (P<0.05) in dry matter intake (DMI) among the treatments, and it ranged from 3.8 to 4.7 kg per day by showing a higher DMI (4.7 kg/day) with TMR+60% barley silage. Significant variations (P<0.05) were noted in body weight gain (BWG) per animal across different treatments ranging from 0.6 to 0.9 kg/day, depicting greater BWG (0.9 kg/day) with TMR+60% barley silage. The mean feed efficiency for the control was 0.15 kg, total mixed ration (TMR)+20% was 0.17 kg, total mixed ration (TMR)+40% was 0.16 kg, and total mixed ration (TMR)+60% barley silage was 0.18 kg. Nutrient digestibility exhibited significant variations (P<0.05) across several groups, with DM (56.8 to 68.5%), CP (70.1 to 78.0%), NDF (61.2 to 67.2%), and ADF (59.5 to 67.3%). Within the blood profile, total protein levels ranged from 59.0-68.7 g/l, blood glucose levels ranged from 60.6-70.6 mg/dl, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels ranged from 14.2-19.2 mg/dl. Better results on nutrients digestibility and blood profile were found with the inclusion of 60% barley silage in TMR. The results concluded that the addition of barley silage in the TMR at 60% attributed to enhanced growth performance, better nutrient digestibility of CP, DM, NDF, and ADF, and elevated profile of blood of Sahiwal x Friesian calves.
Keywords: Barley silage, Blood profile, Growth performance, Total mixed ration, Nutrients digestibility, Sahiwal x Friesian calves
