Utilization of Prosopis juliflora Pods in the Ration of Kankrej Bullocks for Maintenance
J. M. Gujarathi
Animal Nutrition Department, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand 388 110.
Corresponding author
P. C. Shukla
Animal Nutrition Department, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand 388 110.
P. M. Talpada
Animal Nutrition Department, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand 388 110.
Abstract
An experiment was conducted to find out the feasibility of utilising Prosopis juliflora pods in maintenance ration for bullocks. A 44 latin square design with 6 weeks period was followed. The four treatments consisted of 0 (control), 15, 30 and 45 per cent level of Prosopis juliflora pods in concentrate mixture and were designated as treatment T1, T2, T3, and T₁ respectively. Each animal was fed daily 2 kg of hybrid napier, mature pasture hay ad-lib and weighed quantities of concentrate mixture. The bullocks were fed as per Sen and Ray standard (1971) to meet the DCP requirement. Studies revealed that even at 45 per cent of Prosopis juliflora pods feeding there were no adverse effects, on the dry matter intake and digestibility of nutrients. Nitrogen and calcium balances were positive. However, at higher level of Prosopis juliflora pods feeding (T₁) phosphorus balance was negative indicating thereby that it should be fed with some phosphorus rich concentrate mineral mixture containing phosphorus.