MVSc

An investigation was carried out to assess the effect of energy
supplementation on growth of crossbred heifers. Eighteen crossbred heifers
with an average age of 15 months and were distributed into three groups as
uniformly as possible with regard to age and body weight. The dietary
treatments TI, T2, and T3 were randomly allotted to each group. The three
dietary treatments were Tl - control diet (concentrate mixture + straw) as per
ICAR recommendations, T2 - control diet supplemented with 0.5 kg ground
maize and T3 - control diet supplemented with 1 kg ground maize.
The animals maintained on the three dietary treatments Tl , T2 and T3
showed an average daily body weight gain of 535.47,602.15 and 631.18 g
respectively during the experimental period of 155 days. Statistical analysis
of the body weight gain showed no significant difference between the three
dietary treatment groups.
The average daily dry matter intake was significantly higher (P<O.05)
in the animals maintained on T3 ration compared to Tl and 1'2. However the
dry matter intake as percentage of body weight remained similar in the heifers
fed the three experimental diets. The energy supplementation did not seem to
have any effect on the feed to gain and protein efficiency ratios of the
crossbred heifers.

Energy supplementation to the crossbred heifers had no effect on any
of the rumen fermentation characteristics as pH, total volatile fatty acid
concentration and ammonia nitrogen concentration of the rumen liquor.•
The plasma levels of calcium and phosphorus also remained similar for
the animals maintained on the three dietary treatments. A significant increase
in the digestibilities of dry matter (P<0.05) and crude protein (P<O.O I) were
observed in the animals supplemented with maize at 0.5 (12) and 1 kg (T3)
levels as an energy source compared to the control (TI). However the
digestibilities of ether extract, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre
remained unaffected by the extra energy supplementation.
An improved reproductive performance was exhibited by the animals
maintained on T3 ration.
The cost of feed for producing unit gain was almost similar for the
three dietary treatments.
Thus a critical assessment of the overall results obtained during the
course of the present study did not reveal any significant effect of energy
supplementation on the growth, feed efficiency, rumen fermentation
characteristics and the plasma levels of calcium and phosphorus. However,
energy supplementation improved the dry matter and crude protein
digestibilities. The reproductive performance of the animals was also better in
the high energy supplemented group.