Directory UMM :Data Elmu:jurnal:A:Animal Feed Science and Technology:Vol87.Issue3-4.Oct2000:
Animal Feed Science and Technology
87 (2000) 253±261
Revival performance of growing buffalo calves
fed on urea molasses liquid diet and roughage
as survival feed
A.K. Verma*, R.S. Dass, U.R. Mehra
Nuclear Research Laboratory, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, UP, India
Received 27 July 1999; received in revised form 16 June 2000; accepted 6 July 2000
Abstract
The potential of urea molasses liquid diet (UMLD) with two levels of roughage as survival feed
(Phase-I) and its impact on the performance during revival period (Phase-II) was studied on eight
growing buffalo calves (209 kg mean body weight; 1 year age) divided into two equal groups in a
completely randomised design. In the ®rst phase, the calves of both the groups were offered 3 kg
UMLD (molasses 84%; urea 3%; mineral mixture 2%; phosphoric acid 1% and protein pellets 1%)
along with 500 and 1000 g wheat straw per 100 body weight in Group 1 and 2, respectively. Protein
pellets, which were part of UMLD were given separately. In Phase-II, animals of both the groups
were fed on similar diets consisting of ad libitum wheat straw and concentrate mixture (ground nut
cake 33%; wheat bran 32%; crushed maize 32%; mineral mixture 2% and common salt 1%) as per
their requirements to attain 500 g daily growth. At the termination of each phase of 120 days, a
metabolism trial of 6 days duration was conducted. The animals fed UMLD along with 1000 g
wheat straw per 100 kg body weight (Group 2), though, consumed signi®cantly more of almost all
the nutrients, except comparable DM and OM, during Phase-I, the digestibility of DM, OM and EE
was higher in Group 1, however, digestibility of other nutrients was comparable between the
groups. On the other hand, when the animals were shifted to revival diet (Phase-II), the intake and
digestibility of all the nutrients were similar between the groups. The loss in body weight during
survival feeding was 187.5 and 16.7 g daily in Group 1 and 2, respectively, which was compensated
during revival feeding with an average daily gain of 449.9 and 337.5 g in corresponding groups.
Though the differences were insigni®cant, the animals fed UMLD along with 500 g wheat straw per
100 kg body weight (Group 1) could not attain body weight similar to the animals of Group 2. Plane
of nutrition and retention of nutrients were largely similar in calves of both the groups during both
the periods. Since, the feeding of UMLD along with 1000 g wheat straw per 100 kg body weight
resulted in minimal body weight loss, it can be practiced as potential survival feed during feed
*
Corresponding author. Tel.: 91-581-442313; fax: 91-581-447284.
E-mail address: [email protected] (A.K. Verma).
0377-8401/00/$ ± see front matter # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 3 7 7 - 8 4 0 1 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 1 9 6 - 6
254
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
scarcity without any adverse impact on the performance of buffalo calves during revival period.
# 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Urea; Molasses; Liquid diet; Wheat straw; Buffalo
1. Introduction
The major constraint in livestock production in most of the developing countries is
shortage of feeds/fodders caused by ¯oods/droughts, which sometimes results in heavy
stock losses. Under such situations our main thrust should be to ensure survival of our
livestock followed by subsequent production from such animals. Survival feeding of
cattle with grain has been clearly demonstrated (Ryley et al., 1960; Morris, 1968),
however, it has not been widely accepted due to heavy stock losses owing to the
dif®culties in regulating intakes. On the other hand such feeding system would be
dif®cult to apply in Third World Countries like India since we can not afford to feed the
grains to the livestock under the present food crisis. Discouraging results were obtained
when urea was used as a sole source of protein nitrogen without feeding concentrates
(Gupta et al., 1970). However, survival feeds based on urea, molasses alongwith various
combinations have been used experimentally in India (Ranjhan et al., 1973; Pathak et al.,
1976; Daniel et al., 1984, 1986; Mehra et al., 1994a,b; Verma et al., 1994, 1995; Sengar
et al., 1995; Dass et al., 1996a,b) and abroad (Elias et al., 1967; Butler, 1971; Wythes and
Ernst, 1983; Gulbransen, 1985a,b; Preston, 1987). These studies have clearly
demonstrated that survival feeding of animals solely on the liquid feeds are very dif®cult
and results in problems of various degrees. Therefore, supplementation of urea molasses
liquid diet (UMLD) with roughage is essential for survival of animals (Ichhponani et al.,
1993; Dass et al., 1996a,b). Hence, in the present investigation an attempt has been made
to ascertain the potential of urea molasses liquid diet (UMLD) with two levels of
roughage as survival feed (Phase-I) and its impact on the performance of growing buffalo
calves during revival period (Phase-II).
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Animals, feeding and management
Experiment was conducted in two phases, each of 120 days, using eight growing
buffalo calves (209 kg mean body weight; 1 year age) housed and fed individually and
divided into two groups following completely randomised block design. In the ®rst phase
of 120 days duration, the calves of both the groups were offered 3 kg UMLD (molasses
84%; urea 3%; mineral mixture 2%; phosphoric acid 1%; protein pellets 10% as fresh
basis) along with 500 and 1000 g wheat straw (on fresh basis) per 100 kg body weight in
Group 1 and 2, respectively. Protein pellets which were part of UMLD were given
separately. In Phase-II, which also lasted for 120 days, animals of both the groups were
fed on similar diets consisting of ad libitum wheat straw and concentrate mixture (ground
255
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
nut cake 33%; wheat bran 32%; crushed maize 32%; mineral mixture 2% and common
salt 1%) as per their requirements (Kearl, 1982). Fortnightly body weights were also
recorded throughout the experimental period to arrive at body weight change and average
daily gain.
2.2. Metasbolism trial and sample analysis
At the termination of each phase of 120 days, a metabolism trial of 6 days duration was
conducted involving total quantitative collection of faeces and urine and recording of feed
and residue by harnessing all the animals in metabolism cages to assess plane of nutrition
and utilisation of nutrients. The proximate composition of feeds and faecal samples was
determined as per AOAC (1990) methods. Nitrogen content in feed, faeces and urine was
determined by micro-Kjeldhal method and crude protein calculated as N 6:25. The
contents of neutral detergent ®bre (NDF), acid detergent ®bre (ADF) and cellulose were
analysed using methods described by Van Soest et al. (1991). Hemicellulose content was
arrived at by subtracting ADF from NDF. Mineral extract of these samples were prepared
(AOAC, 1990) and analysed for calcium as per Talapatra et al. (1940) and for phosphorus
colorimetrically involving molybdovanadate reagent (AOAC, 1980).
2.3. Statistical analysis
The data were subjected to a test of signi®cance between diets in each phase using
Student's t-test (Steel and Torrie, 1980).
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Composition of dietary ingredients
The chemical composition of feed offered to experimental animals during both the
phases is given in Table 1. Urea molasses liquid diet (UMLD) contained 22.4% CP, which
Table 1
Chemical composition of dietary ingredientsa
Attributes
OM
UMLD
Protein pellets
Concentrate mixture
Wheat straw (Phase-I)
Wheat straw (Phase-II)
87.62 22.40 0.48
89.75 32.41 3.90
91.46 21.02 3.22
91.60 3.71 0.90
91.14 3.23 0.78
a
CP
EE
NDF
ADF
Hemicellulose Cellulose Calcium Phosphorus
±
35.52
39.29
83.89
85.66
±
14.75
13.99
53.29
54.84
±
20.77
25.30
30.60
30.82
±
10.52
9.84
45.53
43.42
1.83
1.02
1.05
0.39
0.38
0.50
0.95
0.64
0.06
0.06
Composition of protein pellets (ingredients percentage on fresh basis): deoiled rice bran 2; mustard oil cake
(MOC) 11; deoiled groundnut cake 7; malt sprout 3; deoiled MOC 23; rice polish 6; maize gluten 3; guar corma
9; cotton seed meal 8; jowar 10; cane molasses 10; wheat bran 4; salt 2; mineral mixture 2 and vitablend
10,000 IU per kg of feed.
256
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
corroborates well with the reported values of various workers (Mehra et al., 1994b;
Verma et al., 1994; Sengar et al., 1995; Dass et al., 1996a,b). Composition of wheat straw
during both the phases was similar.
3.2. Intake and digestibility of nutrients
The animals fed UMLD along with 1000 g wheat straw per 100 kg body weight (Group
2) consumed signi®cantly more of almost all the nutrients, except comparable DM and
OM during Phase-I as compared to Group 1 (Table 2). Although, the intake of DM and
OM also tended to be higher by 30%, when animals were given increased amount of
wheat straw from 500 to 1000 g per 100 kg body weight. However, differences did not
vary signi®cantly due to wider individual variation in DM consumption by the animals.
Although, intake of all these nutrients was comparable between two groups during PhaseII when the animals were offered revival diet comprising of concentrate mixture and ad
libitum wheat straw. Similar observations have been reported by Sengar et al. (1995) in
growing Murrah buffaloes and Dass et al. (1996a) in growing crossbred heifers fed on
UMLD and 500 g wheat straw per 100 kg body weight. Moreover, Mehra et al. (1994a)
also found comparable intake in crossbred heifers fed UMLD and 500 g dry matter
(wheat straw and green oats in equal parts) per 100 kg body weight. In the present study,
inclusion of wheat straw to UMLD based ration at both the levels resulted in an increased
consumption of all the nutrients as compared to the earlier reports of Verma et al. (1994)
and Mehra et al. (1994b), when they offered UMLD without roughage to growing
crossbred heifers.
The digestibility of DM, OM and EE was higher in Group 1, however, digestibility
of other nutrients was comparable between the groups (Phase-I). On the other hand,
when the animals were shifted to revival diet of concentrate mixture and wheat
straw during Phase-II of experimentation, the digestibility of all the nutrients was
similar between the groups. Decreased digestibilty of DM, OM and EE in Group 2
may be attributed to 30% increased intake of wheat straw, which is poorly digestible
and change in the retention time due to increased intake. Verma et al. (1994) and
Mehra et al. (1994b) reported comparatively higher digestibility values for all the
nutrients in growing crossbred heifers offered UMLD as sole diet. Similar observations
during revival period were also obtained in crossbred calves by Daniel et al. (1986).
Intake and digestibility of nutrients between groups during Phase-II were alike, which
clearly indicated that shorter period of under feeding with varying levels of roughage
did not have any adverse impact on the intake and digestibility of dietary nutrients
in buffalo calves.
3.3. Body weight change and plane of nutrition
Initial body weight as well as change in body weight during Phase-I and II are
presented in Table 3 and depicted graphically in Fig. 1. At the start of the experiment,
initial body weights of the animals in both the groups were identical. During ®rst phase
of 120 days experimental feeding (Phase-I, survival feeding) animals of Group 1 and 2
daily lost their body weight by 187.5 and 16.7 g, respectively. Comparatively lower
257
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
Table 2
Intake (g per day) and digestibility (%) of nutrients during and post UMLD feedinga
Attributes
Phase-I
Phase-II
Group 1
Group 2
Dry matter
Intake, through:
UMLD
Protein pellets
Concentrate mixture
Wheat straw*
Total intake
Digestible intake
Digestibility**
1767.3
274.0
±
948.2a
2989.4
1708.7
57.3 b
1752.4
274.0
±
1851.2 b
3877.6
1947.2
50.3 a
Organic matter
Intake
Digestible intake
Digestibility**
2663.5
1579.6
59.5 b
521.1a
298.8
57.4
Crude protein
Intake**
Digestible intake
Digestibility
Ether extract
Intake*
Digestible intake
Digestibility**
SEM
Group 1
Group 2
SEM
287.95
213.37
1.22
±
±
1547.0
3261.7
4808.7
2460.1
51.4
±
±
1570.8
3153.5
4724.3
2376.0
50.4
±
±
94.70
405.61
495.80
234.05
1.24
3477.6
1815.2
52.3 a
260.39
122.98
1.17
4387.5
2361.4
54.0
4310.7
2303.1
53.5
452.17
228.09
1.18
592.7b
307.9
52.1
12.99
10.44
2.19
430.6
251.5
58.6
432.1
232.3
53.5
32.53
20.33
1.62
91.29
±
±
27.9 a
22.5
81.0 b
36.0 b
23.7
66.0 a
2.17
1.25
2.05
NDF
Intake*
Digestible intake
Digestibility
892.7 a
340.2
37.6
1650.2 b
616.7
36.9
178.97
86.33
1.74
3401.8
1710.8
50.6
3318.5
1547.1
46.7
382.67
175.28
1.83
ADF
Intake*
Digestible intake**
Digestibility
545.7 a
187.6 a
33.8
1026.9 b
379.1 b
37.8
113.71
32.36
2.12
2005.1
802.9
40.2
1949.1
742.5
38.0
234.95
96.50
1.51
Hemicellulose
Intake*
Digestible intake
Digestibility
347.0 a
182.5
52.3
623.4 b
296.7
46.8
65.28
42.47
2.28
1396.6
798.2
57.9
1369.3
804.6
59.0
147.76
74.82
2.67
Cellulose
Intake*
Digestible intake*
Digestibility
431.7 a
182.0 a
42.3
842.8 b
401.1
46.9
97.15
56.25
1.89
1568.5
857.4
54.7
1773.8
848.7
55.5
185.79
107.74
1.00
a
75.3
55.3
73.4 b
75.2
49.8
66.4 a
6.13
4.29
1.31
Values bearing different letters in a row within a phase differ signi®cantly: *P < 0:05; **P < 0:01.
body weight loss in animals of Group 2 was clearly due to the roughage feeding at higher
level. Gulbransen (1985a) also observed similar trend of reduced weight loss in cattle
with almost similar type of survival feed. Wythes and Ernst (1983) also reported loss in
body weight in heifers fed on urea, molasses and sorghum grain but mean loss was
258
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
Table 3
Body weight change and plane of nutrition in buffalo calvesa
Attributes
Phase-I
Group 1
Body weight change
Initial body weight (kg)
Final body weight (kg)
Days in experiment
Daily weight gain (g)
Plane of nutrition
Body weight (kg)
Metabolic body weight (kg Wÿ0.75)
Dry matter intake
g per day
g 100 kgÿ1 body weight
g kg Wÿ0.75**
Phase-II
Group 2
SEM
Group 1
Group 2
SEM
208.3
185.8
120
ÿ187.5
209.5
207.5
120
ÿ16.7
30.88
24.23
±
66.93
185.8
239.8
120
449.9
207.5
251.0
120
337.5
24.23
25.75
±
36.05
185.8
50.2
207.5
54.4
24.23
4.75
239.8
60.8
251.0
62.9
25.75
4.80
287.95
84.51
1.86
4808.7
2012.5
79.0
4724.3
1877.2
74.5
495.80
39.82
2.39
2989.4
3877.6
1637.7
1894.3
60.3 a
71.3 b
Crude protein intake
g per day
g 100 kgÿ1 body weight
g kg Wÿ0.75
521.1
287.9
10.9
592.7
297.7
11.2
12.99
27.23
0.72
430.5
181.2
7.1
432.1
173.7
6.9
32.53
5.29
0.05
DCP intake
g per day
g 100 kgÿ1 body weight
g kg Wÿ0.75
298.8
165.4
6.1
307.9
157.5
5.9
10.44
19.78
0.59
251.5
106.1
4.2
232.3
92.9
3.7
20.33
4.06
0.12
TDN intake
g per day
g 100 kgÿ1 body weight
g kg Wÿ0.75
1609.1
886.9
32.5
1844.8
903.5
34.0
125.33
56.30
1.36
2430.6
1020.6
40.0
2365.3
941.1
36.6
233.21
21.58
1.42
a
Values bearing different letters in a row within a phase differ signi®cantly: **P < 0:01.
much higher (490 g per day) probably due to the shorter period of study. In the
present experiment, it was interesting to note that the animals lost their body weight
only during the early part of the survival feeding, later on they maintained their body
weight (Fig. 1). During Phase-II, when the animals were shifted to the revival diet of
concentrate mixture and ad libitum wheat straw feeding, average daily weight gain was
449.9 and 337.5 g in Group 1 and 2, respectively. Though the animals of Group 1 could
not attain body weight as that of Group 2, it was clear that these animals compensated
their body weight by gaining more during revival period. These ®ndings are in
accordance with the earlier reports of Daniel et al. (1986) in crossbred calves and
Dass et al. (1996a) in crossbred heifers fed urea molasses liquid diet with limited amount
of roughage.
Intake of all the nutrients (g per day, g 100 kgÿ1 body weight and g kg Wÿ0.75) was
largely similar in both the groups within each phase except intake of dry matter as
g kg Wÿ0.75, which was signi®cantly higher in Group 2 during Phase-I, obviously due to
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
259
Fig. 1. Body weight change in buffalo calves during and post UMLD feeding.
higher level of wheat straw feeding in this group. Intake of dry matter and energy (TDN)
was comparatively higher during Phase-II due to the higher requirements of these
nutrients for compensatory growth. Contrary to this, CP intake was signi®cantly lower
during revival feeding than survival feeding which might be due to the reason that
animals during Phase-I were given urea (NPN) as main source of protein which was
replaced by concentrate mixture during Phase-II. Similar results have also been reported
by Yambayamba and Price (1991) in beef heifers. Saubidet and Verde (1976) in an
experiment with steers observed that more severe the restriction, the greater tendency to
compensate by consuming more feed. In the present experiment, compensatory tendency
was less as the degree of feed restriction was limited as compared to previous experiment
(Verma et al., 1995).
3.4. Balance of nutrients
Animals of both the groups during both the phases were in positive nitrogen, calcium
and phosphorus balance (Table 4). In spite of very high positive nitrogen balance during
Phase-I in both the groups, animals lost their body weight, reasons of which could not be
explained. However, similar type of higher nitrogen retention has been reported in several
studies where urea (NPN) has been used as a main dietary protein source (Mehra et al.,
1994b; Dass et al., 1996a,b). Wythes and Ernst (1983) also reported that increasing
amount of molasses containing 3% urea caused the body weight loss in heifers. In another
experiment on steers mean live weight loss of 490 g per day was observed when fed with
molasses, urea and sorghum grain.
260
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
Table 4
Daily retention (g) of nutrients by buffalo calvesa
Attributes
Phase-I
Phase-II
Group 1
Group 2
SEM
Group 1
Group 2
SEM
Nitrogen
Intake*
Faecal excretion*
Urinary excretion
Total loss**
Retained
83.4 a
35.6 a
32.0
67.6 a
15.8
94.8 b
45.6 b
32.8
78.4 b
16.4
2.06
2.76
0.91
2.68
1.30
68.9
28.7
22.4
51.1
17.9
69.1
32.0
21.5
53.5
15.6
5.20
2.37
2.53
4.67
1.13
Calcium
Intake
Faecal excretion
Urinary excretion
Total loss
Retained
38.8
33.6
2.0
35.6
3.2
42.1
37.6
2.2
39.8
2.3
2.35
2.98
0.16
2.25
0.16
28.9
22.5
1.2
23.7
5.2
28.5
22.3
1.2
23.5
5.0
2.59
2.70
0.19
2.81
0.79
Phosphorus
Intake
Faecal excretion
Urinary excretion
Total loss
Retained
12.0
9.2
0.8
10.0
2.1
12.5
9.8
0.8
10.6
1.9
0.56
0.41
0.11
0.49
0.15
11.6
8.7
0.2
8.9
2.7
11.9
9.2
0.2
9.4
2.6
0.84
1.11
0.05
1.10
0.47
a
Values bearing different letters in a row within a phase differ signi®cantly: *P < 0:05; **P < 0:01.
4. Conclusion
Since the feeding UMLD along with 1000 g wheat straw per 100 kg body weight
resulted in minimal body weight loss, it can be practiced as potential survival feed during
feed scarcity without any adverse impact on the performance of buffalo calves during
revival period.
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Saubidet, C.L., Verde, L.S., 1976. Relationship between liveweight, age and dry matter intake for beef cattle
after different levels of food restriction. Anim. Prod. 22, 61±69.
Sengar, S.S., Verma, A.K., Varshney, V.P., Mehra, U.R., 1995. Effect of feeding urea molasses liquid diet feeding
on the growth performance, blood pro®le and thyroid gland activity in buffalo heifers in early stage of
growth. Buffalo J. 11, 157±163.
Steel, R.G.D., Torrie, J.H., 1980. Principles and Procedures of Statistics, 2nd Edition. McGraw Hill, New York,
USA.
Talapatra, S.K., Roy, S.C., Sen, K.C., 1940. Estimation of phosphorus, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, sodium
and potassium in food-stuffs. Indian J. Vet. Sci. Anim. Husb. 10, 243±258.
Van Soest, P.J., Robertson, J.B., Lewis, B.A., 1991. Methods for dietary ®bre, neutral detergent ®bre and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J. Dairy Sci. 74, 3583±3597.
Verma, A.K., Dass, R.S., Mehra, U.R., 1994. Response of urea molasses liquid diet feeding on growth
performance, nutrient utilisation and thyroid gland activity in crossbred heifers. World Rev. Anim. Prod. 29,
101±107.
Verma, A.K., Mehra, U.R., Dass, R.S., Varshney, V.P., Kumar, H., 1995. Performance of crossbred heifers during
revival period after long term scarcity feeding. J. Appl. Anim. Res. 8, 63±70.
Wythes, J.R., Ernst, A.J., 1983. Molasses as a drought feed. Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. 15, 213±276.
Yambayamba, E., Price, M.A., 1991. Growth performance and carcass composition in beef heifers undergoing
catch-up (compensatory) growth. Canadian J. Anim. Sci. 71, 1021±1029.
87 (2000) 253±261
Revival performance of growing buffalo calves
fed on urea molasses liquid diet and roughage
as survival feed
A.K. Verma*, R.S. Dass, U.R. Mehra
Nuclear Research Laboratory, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, UP, India
Received 27 July 1999; received in revised form 16 June 2000; accepted 6 July 2000
Abstract
The potential of urea molasses liquid diet (UMLD) with two levels of roughage as survival feed
(Phase-I) and its impact on the performance during revival period (Phase-II) was studied on eight
growing buffalo calves (209 kg mean body weight; 1 year age) divided into two equal groups in a
completely randomised design. In the ®rst phase, the calves of both the groups were offered 3 kg
UMLD (molasses 84%; urea 3%; mineral mixture 2%; phosphoric acid 1% and protein pellets 1%)
along with 500 and 1000 g wheat straw per 100 body weight in Group 1 and 2, respectively. Protein
pellets, which were part of UMLD were given separately. In Phase-II, animals of both the groups
were fed on similar diets consisting of ad libitum wheat straw and concentrate mixture (ground nut
cake 33%; wheat bran 32%; crushed maize 32%; mineral mixture 2% and common salt 1%) as per
their requirements to attain 500 g daily growth. At the termination of each phase of 120 days, a
metabolism trial of 6 days duration was conducted. The animals fed UMLD along with 1000 g
wheat straw per 100 kg body weight (Group 2), though, consumed signi®cantly more of almost all
the nutrients, except comparable DM and OM, during Phase-I, the digestibility of DM, OM and EE
was higher in Group 1, however, digestibility of other nutrients was comparable between the
groups. On the other hand, when the animals were shifted to revival diet (Phase-II), the intake and
digestibility of all the nutrients were similar between the groups. The loss in body weight during
survival feeding was 187.5 and 16.7 g daily in Group 1 and 2, respectively, which was compensated
during revival feeding with an average daily gain of 449.9 and 337.5 g in corresponding groups.
Though the differences were insigni®cant, the animals fed UMLD along with 500 g wheat straw per
100 kg body weight (Group 1) could not attain body weight similar to the animals of Group 2. Plane
of nutrition and retention of nutrients were largely similar in calves of both the groups during both
the periods. Since, the feeding of UMLD along with 1000 g wheat straw per 100 kg body weight
resulted in minimal body weight loss, it can be practiced as potential survival feed during feed
*
Corresponding author. Tel.: 91-581-442313; fax: 91-581-447284.
E-mail address: [email protected] (A.K. Verma).
0377-8401/00/$ ± see front matter # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 3 7 7 - 8 4 0 1 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 1 9 6 - 6
254
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
scarcity without any adverse impact on the performance of buffalo calves during revival period.
# 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Urea; Molasses; Liquid diet; Wheat straw; Buffalo
1. Introduction
The major constraint in livestock production in most of the developing countries is
shortage of feeds/fodders caused by ¯oods/droughts, which sometimes results in heavy
stock losses. Under such situations our main thrust should be to ensure survival of our
livestock followed by subsequent production from such animals. Survival feeding of
cattle with grain has been clearly demonstrated (Ryley et al., 1960; Morris, 1968),
however, it has not been widely accepted due to heavy stock losses owing to the
dif®culties in regulating intakes. On the other hand such feeding system would be
dif®cult to apply in Third World Countries like India since we can not afford to feed the
grains to the livestock under the present food crisis. Discouraging results were obtained
when urea was used as a sole source of protein nitrogen without feeding concentrates
(Gupta et al., 1970). However, survival feeds based on urea, molasses alongwith various
combinations have been used experimentally in India (Ranjhan et al., 1973; Pathak et al.,
1976; Daniel et al., 1984, 1986; Mehra et al., 1994a,b; Verma et al., 1994, 1995; Sengar
et al., 1995; Dass et al., 1996a,b) and abroad (Elias et al., 1967; Butler, 1971; Wythes and
Ernst, 1983; Gulbransen, 1985a,b; Preston, 1987). These studies have clearly
demonstrated that survival feeding of animals solely on the liquid feeds are very dif®cult
and results in problems of various degrees. Therefore, supplementation of urea molasses
liquid diet (UMLD) with roughage is essential for survival of animals (Ichhponani et al.,
1993; Dass et al., 1996a,b). Hence, in the present investigation an attempt has been made
to ascertain the potential of urea molasses liquid diet (UMLD) with two levels of
roughage as survival feed (Phase-I) and its impact on the performance of growing buffalo
calves during revival period (Phase-II).
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Animals, feeding and management
Experiment was conducted in two phases, each of 120 days, using eight growing
buffalo calves (209 kg mean body weight; 1 year age) housed and fed individually and
divided into two groups following completely randomised block design. In the ®rst phase
of 120 days duration, the calves of both the groups were offered 3 kg UMLD (molasses
84%; urea 3%; mineral mixture 2%; phosphoric acid 1%; protein pellets 10% as fresh
basis) along with 500 and 1000 g wheat straw (on fresh basis) per 100 kg body weight in
Group 1 and 2, respectively. Protein pellets which were part of UMLD were given
separately. In Phase-II, which also lasted for 120 days, animals of both the groups were
fed on similar diets consisting of ad libitum wheat straw and concentrate mixture (ground
255
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
nut cake 33%; wheat bran 32%; crushed maize 32%; mineral mixture 2% and common
salt 1%) as per their requirements (Kearl, 1982). Fortnightly body weights were also
recorded throughout the experimental period to arrive at body weight change and average
daily gain.
2.2. Metasbolism trial and sample analysis
At the termination of each phase of 120 days, a metabolism trial of 6 days duration was
conducted involving total quantitative collection of faeces and urine and recording of feed
and residue by harnessing all the animals in metabolism cages to assess plane of nutrition
and utilisation of nutrients. The proximate composition of feeds and faecal samples was
determined as per AOAC (1990) methods. Nitrogen content in feed, faeces and urine was
determined by micro-Kjeldhal method and crude protein calculated as N 6:25. The
contents of neutral detergent ®bre (NDF), acid detergent ®bre (ADF) and cellulose were
analysed using methods described by Van Soest et al. (1991). Hemicellulose content was
arrived at by subtracting ADF from NDF. Mineral extract of these samples were prepared
(AOAC, 1990) and analysed for calcium as per Talapatra et al. (1940) and for phosphorus
colorimetrically involving molybdovanadate reagent (AOAC, 1980).
2.3. Statistical analysis
The data were subjected to a test of signi®cance between diets in each phase using
Student's t-test (Steel and Torrie, 1980).
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Composition of dietary ingredients
The chemical composition of feed offered to experimental animals during both the
phases is given in Table 1. Urea molasses liquid diet (UMLD) contained 22.4% CP, which
Table 1
Chemical composition of dietary ingredientsa
Attributes
OM
UMLD
Protein pellets
Concentrate mixture
Wheat straw (Phase-I)
Wheat straw (Phase-II)
87.62 22.40 0.48
89.75 32.41 3.90
91.46 21.02 3.22
91.60 3.71 0.90
91.14 3.23 0.78
a
CP
EE
NDF
ADF
Hemicellulose Cellulose Calcium Phosphorus
±
35.52
39.29
83.89
85.66
±
14.75
13.99
53.29
54.84
±
20.77
25.30
30.60
30.82
±
10.52
9.84
45.53
43.42
1.83
1.02
1.05
0.39
0.38
0.50
0.95
0.64
0.06
0.06
Composition of protein pellets (ingredients percentage on fresh basis): deoiled rice bran 2; mustard oil cake
(MOC) 11; deoiled groundnut cake 7; malt sprout 3; deoiled MOC 23; rice polish 6; maize gluten 3; guar corma
9; cotton seed meal 8; jowar 10; cane molasses 10; wheat bran 4; salt 2; mineral mixture 2 and vitablend
10,000 IU per kg of feed.
256
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
corroborates well with the reported values of various workers (Mehra et al., 1994b;
Verma et al., 1994; Sengar et al., 1995; Dass et al., 1996a,b). Composition of wheat straw
during both the phases was similar.
3.2. Intake and digestibility of nutrients
The animals fed UMLD along with 1000 g wheat straw per 100 kg body weight (Group
2) consumed signi®cantly more of almost all the nutrients, except comparable DM and
OM during Phase-I as compared to Group 1 (Table 2). Although, the intake of DM and
OM also tended to be higher by 30%, when animals were given increased amount of
wheat straw from 500 to 1000 g per 100 kg body weight. However, differences did not
vary signi®cantly due to wider individual variation in DM consumption by the animals.
Although, intake of all these nutrients was comparable between two groups during PhaseII when the animals were offered revival diet comprising of concentrate mixture and ad
libitum wheat straw. Similar observations have been reported by Sengar et al. (1995) in
growing Murrah buffaloes and Dass et al. (1996a) in growing crossbred heifers fed on
UMLD and 500 g wheat straw per 100 kg body weight. Moreover, Mehra et al. (1994a)
also found comparable intake in crossbred heifers fed UMLD and 500 g dry matter
(wheat straw and green oats in equal parts) per 100 kg body weight. In the present study,
inclusion of wheat straw to UMLD based ration at both the levels resulted in an increased
consumption of all the nutrients as compared to the earlier reports of Verma et al. (1994)
and Mehra et al. (1994b), when they offered UMLD without roughage to growing
crossbred heifers.
The digestibility of DM, OM and EE was higher in Group 1, however, digestibility
of other nutrients was comparable between the groups (Phase-I). On the other hand,
when the animals were shifted to revival diet of concentrate mixture and wheat
straw during Phase-II of experimentation, the digestibility of all the nutrients was
similar between the groups. Decreased digestibilty of DM, OM and EE in Group 2
may be attributed to 30% increased intake of wheat straw, which is poorly digestible
and change in the retention time due to increased intake. Verma et al. (1994) and
Mehra et al. (1994b) reported comparatively higher digestibility values for all the
nutrients in growing crossbred heifers offered UMLD as sole diet. Similar observations
during revival period were also obtained in crossbred calves by Daniel et al. (1986).
Intake and digestibility of nutrients between groups during Phase-II were alike, which
clearly indicated that shorter period of under feeding with varying levels of roughage
did not have any adverse impact on the intake and digestibility of dietary nutrients
in buffalo calves.
3.3. Body weight change and plane of nutrition
Initial body weight as well as change in body weight during Phase-I and II are
presented in Table 3 and depicted graphically in Fig. 1. At the start of the experiment,
initial body weights of the animals in both the groups were identical. During ®rst phase
of 120 days experimental feeding (Phase-I, survival feeding) animals of Group 1 and 2
daily lost their body weight by 187.5 and 16.7 g, respectively. Comparatively lower
257
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
Table 2
Intake (g per day) and digestibility (%) of nutrients during and post UMLD feedinga
Attributes
Phase-I
Phase-II
Group 1
Group 2
Dry matter
Intake, through:
UMLD
Protein pellets
Concentrate mixture
Wheat straw*
Total intake
Digestible intake
Digestibility**
1767.3
274.0
±
948.2a
2989.4
1708.7
57.3 b
1752.4
274.0
±
1851.2 b
3877.6
1947.2
50.3 a
Organic matter
Intake
Digestible intake
Digestibility**
2663.5
1579.6
59.5 b
521.1a
298.8
57.4
Crude protein
Intake**
Digestible intake
Digestibility
Ether extract
Intake*
Digestible intake
Digestibility**
SEM
Group 1
Group 2
SEM
287.95
213.37
1.22
±
±
1547.0
3261.7
4808.7
2460.1
51.4
±
±
1570.8
3153.5
4724.3
2376.0
50.4
±
±
94.70
405.61
495.80
234.05
1.24
3477.6
1815.2
52.3 a
260.39
122.98
1.17
4387.5
2361.4
54.0
4310.7
2303.1
53.5
452.17
228.09
1.18
592.7b
307.9
52.1
12.99
10.44
2.19
430.6
251.5
58.6
432.1
232.3
53.5
32.53
20.33
1.62
91.29
±
±
27.9 a
22.5
81.0 b
36.0 b
23.7
66.0 a
2.17
1.25
2.05
NDF
Intake*
Digestible intake
Digestibility
892.7 a
340.2
37.6
1650.2 b
616.7
36.9
178.97
86.33
1.74
3401.8
1710.8
50.6
3318.5
1547.1
46.7
382.67
175.28
1.83
ADF
Intake*
Digestible intake**
Digestibility
545.7 a
187.6 a
33.8
1026.9 b
379.1 b
37.8
113.71
32.36
2.12
2005.1
802.9
40.2
1949.1
742.5
38.0
234.95
96.50
1.51
Hemicellulose
Intake*
Digestible intake
Digestibility
347.0 a
182.5
52.3
623.4 b
296.7
46.8
65.28
42.47
2.28
1396.6
798.2
57.9
1369.3
804.6
59.0
147.76
74.82
2.67
Cellulose
Intake*
Digestible intake*
Digestibility
431.7 a
182.0 a
42.3
842.8 b
401.1
46.9
97.15
56.25
1.89
1568.5
857.4
54.7
1773.8
848.7
55.5
185.79
107.74
1.00
a
75.3
55.3
73.4 b
75.2
49.8
66.4 a
6.13
4.29
1.31
Values bearing different letters in a row within a phase differ signi®cantly: *P < 0:05; **P < 0:01.
body weight loss in animals of Group 2 was clearly due to the roughage feeding at higher
level. Gulbransen (1985a) also observed similar trend of reduced weight loss in cattle
with almost similar type of survival feed. Wythes and Ernst (1983) also reported loss in
body weight in heifers fed on urea, molasses and sorghum grain but mean loss was
258
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
Table 3
Body weight change and plane of nutrition in buffalo calvesa
Attributes
Phase-I
Group 1
Body weight change
Initial body weight (kg)
Final body weight (kg)
Days in experiment
Daily weight gain (g)
Plane of nutrition
Body weight (kg)
Metabolic body weight (kg Wÿ0.75)
Dry matter intake
g per day
g 100 kgÿ1 body weight
g kg Wÿ0.75**
Phase-II
Group 2
SEM
Group 1
Group 2
SEM
208.3
185.8
120
ÿ187.5
209.5
207.5
120
ÿ16.7
30.88
24.23
±
66.93
185.8
239.8
120
449.9
207.5
251.0
120
337.5
24.23
25.75
±
36.05
185.8
50.2
207.5
54.4
24.23
4.75
239.8
60.8
251.0
62.9
25.75
4.80
287.95
84.51
1.86
4808.7
2012.5
79.0
4724.3
1877.2
74.5
495.80
39.82
2.39
2989.4
3877.6
1637.7
1894.3
60.3 a
71.3 b
Crude protein intake
g per day
g 100 kgÿ1 body weight
g kg Wÿ0.75
521.1
287.9
10.9
592.7
297.7
11.2
12.99
27.23
0.72
430.5
181.2
7.1
432.1
173.7
6.9
32.53
5.29
0.05
DCP intake
g per day
g 100 kgÿ1 body weight
g kg Wÿ0.75
298.8
165.4
6.1
307.9
157.5
5.9
10.44
19.78
0.59
251.5
106.1
4.2
232.3
92.9
3.7
20.33
4.06
0.12
TDN intake
g per day
g 100 kgÿ1 body weight
g kg Wÿ0.75
1609.1
886.9
32.5
1844.8
903.5
34.0
125.33
56.30
1.36
2430.6
1020.6
40.0
2365.3
941.1
36.6
233.21
21.58
1.42
a
Values bearing different letters in a row within a phase differ signi®cantly: **P < 0:01.
much higher (490 g per day) probably due to the shorter period of study. In the
present experiment, it was interesting to note that the animals lost their body weight
only during the early part of the survival feeding, later on they maintained their body
weight (Fig. 1). During Phase-II, when the animals were shifted to the revival diet of
concentrate mixture and ad libitum wheat straw feeding, average daily weight gain was
449.9 and 337.5 g in Group 1 and 2, respectively. Though the animals of Group 1 could
not attain body weight as that of Group 2, it was clear that these animals compensated
their body weight by gaining more during revival period. These ®ndings are in
accordance with the earlier reports of Daniel et al. (1986) in crossbred calves and
Dass et al. (1996a) in crossbred heifers fed urea molasses liquid diet with limited amount
of roughage.
Intake of all the nutrients (g per day, g 100 kgÿ1 body weight and g kg Wÿ0.75) was
largely similar in both the groups within each phase except intake of dry matter as
g kg Wÿ0.75, which was signi®cantly higher in Group 2 during Phase-I, obviously due to
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
259
Fig. 1. Body weight change in buffalo calves during and post UMLD feeding.
higher level of wheat straw feeding in this group. Intake of dry matter and energy (TDN)
was comparatively higher during Phase-II due to the higher requirements of these
nutrients for compensatory growth. Contrary to this, CP intake was signi®cantly lower
during revival feeding than survival feeding which might be due to the reason that
animals during Phase-I were given urea (NPN) as main source of protein which was
replaced by concentrate mixture during Phase-II. Similar results have also been reported
by Yambayamba and Price (1991) in beef heifers. Saubidet and Verde (1976) in an
experiment with steers observed that more severe the restriction, the greater tendency to
compensate by consuming more feed. In the present experiment, compensatory tendency
was less as the degree of feed restriction was limited as compared to previous experiment
(Verma et al., 1995).
3.4. Balance of nutrients
Animals of both the groups during both the phases were in positive nitrogen, calcium
and phosphorus balance (Table 4). In spite of very high positive nitrogen balance during
Phase-I in both the groups, animals lost their body weight, reasons of which could not be
explained. However, similar type of higher nitrogen retention has been reported in several
studies where urea (NPN) has been used as a main dietary protein source (Mehra et al.,
1994b; Dass et al., 1996a,b). Wythes and Ernst (1983) also reported that increasing
amount of molasses containing 3% urea caused the body weight loss in heifers. In another
experiment on steers mean live weight loss of 490 g per day was observed when fed with
molasses, urea and sorghum grain.
260
A.K. Verma et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 87 (2000) 253±261
Table 4
Daily retention (g) of nutrients by buffalo calvesa
Attributes
Phase-I
Phase-II
Group 1
Group 2
SEM
Group 1
Group 2
SEM
Nitrogen
Intake*
Faecal excretion*
Urinary excretion
Total loss**
Retained
83.4 a
35.6 a
32.0
67.6 a
15.8
94.8 b
45.6 b
32.8
78.4 b
16.4
2.06
2.76
0.91
2.68
1.30
68.9
28.7
22.4
51.1
17.9
69.1
32.0
21.5
53.5
15.6
5.20
2.37
2.53
4.67
1.13
Calcium
Intake
Faecal excretion
Urinary excretion
Total loss
Retained
38.8
33.6
2.0
35.6
3.2
42.1
37.6
2.2
39.8
2.3
2.35
2.98
0.16
2.25
0.16
28.9
22.5
1.2
23.7
5.2
28.5
22.3
1.2
23.5
5.0
2.59
2.70
0.19
2.81
0.79
Phosphorus
Intake
Faecal excretion
Urinary excretion
Total loss
Retained
12.0
9.2
0.8
10.0
2.1
12.5
9.8
0.8
10.6
1.9
0.56
0.41
0.11
0.49
0.15
11.6
8.7
0.2
8.9
2.7
11.9
9.2
0.2
9.4
2.6
0.84
1.11
0.05
1.10
0.47
a
Values bearing different letters in a row within a phase differ signi®cantly: *P < 0:05; **P < 0:01.
4. Conclusion
Since the feeding UMLD along with 1000 g wheat straw per 100 kg body weight
resulted in minimal body weight loss, it can be practiced as potential survival feed during
feed scarcity without any adverse impact on the performance of buffalo calves during
revival period.
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