Utilisation of urea at different stages of development of rumen in weanted calves
By: Raja D.
Contributor(s): Viswanathan T V (Guide).
Material type:
BookPublisher: Mannuthy Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 2005Description: 76.DDC classification: 636.084 Online resources: Click here to access online Dissertation note: MVSc Abstract: An experiment was conducted with eighteen female cross bred calves below one week of age for 150 days to assess the optimum age for the utilization of urea and also the health status of urea fed calves. Calves were divided into three groups as uniformly as possible and allotted randomly to three treatments T1, T2 and T3. Calf starter as per BIS specification (Diet 1) and calf starter with 2 per cent urea (Diet 2) formed the experimental diet. Both the diets were iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. Calves in the T1 were fed with diet 1 from two weeks to five months. Calves in the T2 were fed with diet 1 from two to twelve weeks, later on with diet 2 till five months. Calves in the T3 were fed with diet 1 from two to eight weeks, later on with diet 2 till five months. Milk was fed till three months of age as per the requirement. Green grass and paddy straw were fed ad libitum.
Average daily gain and daily dry matter intake, respectively were 305 g and 1.39 kg for the calves in T1, 299 g and 1.43 kg for the calves in T2, and 321 g and 1.53 kg for the calves in T3, and the values were not significantly different (P>0.05). Feed to gain ratio for T1, T2, and T3 were 4.61, 4.85 and 4.83, respectively and were not significantly different among treatments. Blood biochemical parameter such as blood glucose, AST, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin, A:G ratio did not show any significant difference. Urinary parameters such as urea and creatinine also did not show any significant difference but there was a trend for increased urea excretion in those calves fed urea. Rumen liquor parameter such as pH, MBRT, protozoal activity, TVFA, rumen NH3-N also did not statistically differ (P>0.05). The digestibility coefficient of nutrients observed were 62.26, 59.15, and 60.00 for dry matter, 64.92, 64.89 and 64.91 for crude protein, 70.83, 72.40 and 70.13 for ether extract, 61.39, 58.32 and 62.50 for neutral detergent fibre, 49.81, 47.92 and 51.52 for acid detergent fibre for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. There was no significant difference between the treatments. Cost per kilogram body weight gain was Rs. 73.45, 73.13 and 70.67, respectively for T1, T2, and T3. It could be inferred from the study that urea could be utilized by calves from nine weeks of age without any deleterious effect.
| Item type | Current location | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Theses
|
KAU Central Library, Thrissur Theses | 636.084 RAJ/UT (Browse shelf) | Available | 172381 |
Browsing KAU Central Library, Thrissur Shelves , Shelving location: Theses Close shelf browser
MVSc
An experiment was conducted with eighteen female cross bred calves below one week of age for 150 days to assess the optimum age for the utilization of urea and also the health status of urea fed calves. Calves were divided into three groups as uniformly as possible and allotted randomly to three treatments T1, T2 and T3. Calf starter as per BIS specification (Diet 1) and calf starter with 2 per cent urea (Diet 2) formed the experimental diet. Both the diets were iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. Calves in the T1 were fed with diet 1 from two weeks to five months. Calves in the T2 were fed with diet 1 from two to twelve weeks, later on with diet 2 till five months. Calves in the T3 were fed with diet 1 from two to eight weeks, later on with diet 2 till five months. Milk was fed till three months of age as per the requirement. Green grass and paddy straw were fed ad libitum.
Average daily gain and daily dry matter intake, respectively were 305 g and 1.39 kg for the calves in T1, 299 g and 1.43 kg for the calves in T2, and 321 g and 1.53 kg for the calves in T3, and the values were not significantly different (P>0.05). Feed to gain ratio for T1, T2, and T3 were 4.61, 4.85 and 4.83, respectively and were not significantly different among treatments. Blood biochemical parameter such as blood glucose, AST, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin, A:G ratio did not show any significant difference. Urinary parameters such as urea and creatinine also did not show any significant difference but there was a trend for increased urea excretion in those calves fed urea. Rumen liquor parameter such as pH, MBRT, protozoal activity, TVFA, rumen NH3-N also did not statistically differ (P>0.05). The digestibility coefficient of nutrients observed were 62.26, 59.15, and 60.00 for dry matter, 64.92, 64.89 and 64.91 for crude protein, 70.83, 72.40 and 70.13 for ether extract, 61.39, 58.32 and 62.50 for neutral detergent fibre, 49.81, 47.92 and 51.52 for acid detergent fibre for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. There was no significant difference between the treatments. Cost per kilogram body weight gain was Rs. 73.45, 73.13 and 70.67, respectively for T1, T2, and T3. It could be inferred from the study that urea could be utilized by calves from nine weeks of age without any deleterious effect.
There are no comments for this item.