EFFECT OF OPTIGEN® FEED INTAKE AND PERFORMANCE OF GROWING CALVES

Abstract

: Optigen is a superior non-protein nitrogen source for ruminant nutrition and ensures sustained release of non-protein nitrogen.This research was conducted to test the influence of various levels of Optigen® in diet on dry matter (DM) intake and average daily weight gain in growing buffalo calves. Twenty four (24) male calves of average body weight (mean ± SD) 168 Kg ± 38 were divided into four groups of 6 animals. Four experimental diets were designed to include 0 (T1), 25 (T2), 50 (T3) and 75 g/Kg of diet DM (T4) of Optigen®. The diets were fed according to a completely randomized design for 100 days. Different groups of calves showed a curvilinear (P<0.05) response in DM intake and a quadratic (Q<0.05) response in final body weights with increasing level of Optigen® in the diet. Average daily gain of the calves was not altered (L; P>0.05 and Q; P>0.05). However, the calves fed T4 diets showed numerically the highest weight gains 0.67 kg. Supplementation of slow releasing ammonia products increased the N availability. It improved the synchronization between carbohydrates degradation and daily gains on reduced feed intake.