Feed Intake and Growth Performance of Jersey Calves in Maize Stover Silage based Total Mixed Ration

Abstract

A total of eighteen post weaned female Jersey calves (weighing, 72 ± 1.33 kg, mean ± SE) selected from Adeaberga dairy farm were randomly assigned in to two sample T-test each having nine calves. Calves in the first group were offered natural pasture hay and concentrate mixture separately (T1) whereas calves in the second group received dual purpose green maize stover silage based total mixed ration (TMR). The experiment took 180 and 7 days of feeding trial and digestibility trail respectively. The daily dry matter intake of calves fed T2 (5.41 kg) was higher (p<0.05) than calves receiving T1 (4.64 kg).  Calves fed T2 have higher (P<0.05) apparent dry matter digestibility than calves fed T1 diets. Feed conversion ratio of the calves was not affected (P>0.05) by diets but average daily weight gain of calves in T2 (530g) was higher (P<0.05) than in T1 (450g). It can be said that the growth performance of calves fed the dual purpose green maize Stover silage based total mixed ration diet was superior than calves fed natural pasture hay and concentrate mixture following the conventional feeding practice. Investigate the comparative advantages of using maize crop for dual purposes (food & feed) than as a food for human alone considering both biological responses and economic returns that arises thereof. 

Keywords: Body weight gain, Digestibility, Intake, Maize Stover silage, Total mixed ration

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-17-02

Publication date:September 30^th 2020