Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology
Year : 2003, Volume : 3, Issue : 1
First page : ( 61) Last page : ( 65)
Print ISSN : 0972-2963.

Effect of Two Dietary Protein Levels on Digestibility of Nutrients in Crossbred Heifers

Swain R.K¹, Kaur Harjit*

Dairy Cattle Nutrition Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001, India.

*Reprint request: Dr. Harjit Kaur.

¹Present address: Dept. of Animal Nutrition, Orissa Veterinary College, Bhubneswar-751 003, India

Received:  1  April,  2002.

Abstract

Twelve prepubertal Karan Fries heifers of about 15 months of age were divided into two equal groups. Group 1 was fed a diet of 16.86% CP and group 2 was fed a diet containing 19.08% protein. The energy and protein requirements were met by feeding concentrate mixture and green maize. Two types of concentrate mixtures were formulated to create variability in CP intake. After 90 days of experimental feeding, a digestibility trial of 7 days duration was conducted on all heifers to evaluate the effect of dietary protein on nutrient intake and digestibility of nutrients. Daily DM and CP intakes per 100 kg body weight during digestibility trial averaged 2.94 ± 0.05, 0.499 ± 0.01 in group I and 2.96 ± 0.07, 0.566 ± 0.01 kg in group 2 respectively. DCP and TDN intakes per 100 kg body weight were 0.308 ± 0.01, 2.10 ± 0.05 in group 1 and 0.416 ± 0.01, 2.26 ± 0.06 kg in group 2. The digestibility of all the nutrients was significantly (P<0.01) increased in heifers of group 2 over group 1. It was evident that high protein content in the diet of crossbred heifers improved the digestibility of nutrients.

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Key words

Protein, Digestibility, Heifers.

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