Growth, Reproductive Performance, and Health Attributes of Crossbred Heifers fed High Plane of Energy and Protein

Author: Palak P. Vaidh, Pravin M. Lunagariya, Jigar H. Patel, Poojan H. Pandya, Malhar R. Khant, Niti Sharma and Kishan N. Wadhwani

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Abstract

The high feeding of energy and protein enhances the growth of dairy heifers, safety evaluation physiology and health attributes are very essential to established safety. The experiment was planned to evaluate the effect of high energy and protein on growth and reproductive performance as well as the health attributes of crossbred heifers. A total of twenty-one crossbred heifers were selected and blocked in three treatment groups- T1, T2, and T3 based on body weight and age. The control-T1 group was fed a ration with 100% ME and 100% CP of ICAR requirement, the T2 group was fed 125% ME and 125% CP of control, and the T3 group was fed a diet with 100% ME and 125% CP of control diet. The body weight at biweekly intervals was a consideration for the growth performance. The blood was collected from each crossbred heifer at 0, 90, and 140 days of the experiment before feeding and watering. The total body weight gain of heifers was higher (p<0.05) in T2 and T3 groups compared to T1. The daily body weight gain was significantly higher in the T2 group compared to (T1, T3) other. The gain in heart girth was higher (p<0.05) in the T2 group compared to the T1 and T3 groups. All reproductive parameters (AI/conception, age at conception-days, weight at conception-kg) was non-significantly (p>0.05) differing among the treatments. The feeding of high ME and CP TMR resulted in a 40.17 days lower age at conception and 8.64 kg higher body weight at conception compared to T1. The blood (RBC, Hb) and serum biochemical parameters (glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, A/G ratio, creatinine, AST or SGOT, ALT or SGPT) were within normal physiological range and were not improved by high ME-CP (T2) and high CP (T3) TMR. The WBCs count and BUN were high on feeding high ME-CP (T2) and high CP (T3) TMR. The high ME-CP (T2) TMR has increased and high CP (T3) TMR has reduced total cholesterol and HDL. Only high CP (T3) TMR has reduced LDL levels of crossbred heifers than high ME-CP (T2) and control (T1) TMR.

Keywords

Crossbred heifers, energy, growth, health attributes, protein, reproduction

Conclusion

The feeding of the high plane of nutrition in terms of ME + CP (T2) and high CP (T3) TMR improved growth, and body weight at conception at a lower age, without adversely affecting health attributes like haematology (WBC, RBC, Hb), energy and protein nutrition (serum glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, A/G ratio) liver function (AST, ALT), and kidney function (creatinine, BUN).

References

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How to cite this article

Palak P. Vaidh, Pravin M. Lunagariya, Jigar H. Patel, Poojan H. Pandya, Malhar R. Khant, Niti Sharma and Kishan N. Wadhwani (2022). Growth, Reproductive Performance, and Health Attributes of Crossbred Heifers fed High Plane of Energy and Protein. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4): 579-585.