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Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances

Year: 2007 | Volume: 2 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 21-26
DOI: 10.3923/ajava.2007.21.26
Substitutional Feeding Value of Ensiled Sugarcane Tops and its Effect in Crossbred Heifer`s/cow`s Reproductive Performance
Pund Satish Karbhari, V. Balakrishnan and M. Murugan

Abstract: Deciphering the myth and replacement value of sugarcane tops silage made with 1% urea, 0.5% salt and 2% molasses (SCTS) to mixed green grass (GG) having iso-nitrogenous (1.81) and iso-caloric value (48% TDN) was studied. Eight crossbred heifers (13-19 months age) were divided in two groups of four animals in each. Animals were offered either GG or SCTS ad libitum and concentrate as 1/3rd of total dry matter requirement in a 180 days trial. Though the dry matter intake of SCTS was (p<0.05) lower than GG (96.99 vs 90.70 g kg-1 W0.75), the occurrence (75%), intensity, duration of oestrum (18.17 vs 19.83 h) and the number of heifers conceived (50%) were not affected. In yet another experiment, eight crossbred cows in advanced stage of pregnancy were placed in the same feeding regime and its effect on dry matter intake, incidence of abortion and birth weight of calves were assessed. The milk yield and quality were studied in the calved animals. It was observed that feeding of SCTS did not induce abortion in the advanced pregnant cows, the dry matter intake (136.64 Vs 119.72 g kg-1W0.75) and the birth weight of calves did not vary (17.00 vs 20.75 kg). The post partum milk yield (8.05 vs 7.80 kg) and its composition were not affected by feeding SCTS. There was no incidence of abortion in conceived heifers/ cows fed with SCTS. Hence, it is concluded that SCTS can be used as alternate fodder without affecting reproductive performances in crossbred heifers/cows.

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How to cite this article
Pund Satish Karbhari, V. Balakrishnan and M. Murugan, 2007. Substitutional Feeding Value of Ensiled Sugarcane Tops and its Effect in Crossbred Heifer`s/cow`s Reproductive Performance . Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 2: 21-26.

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