COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE NUTRITIVE VALUES OF OATS AND MAIZE SILAGES IN CROSSBRED GROWING CALVES

Twelve numbers of growing crossbred calves of uniform age and body weight (6-8 months and
72.25±0.53kg) were randomly divided in to two groups of six calves in each and fed individually on
ad libitum quantities of oats silage (T1) vis-à-vis maize silage (T2) for a period of 90 days. The daily
average as well as the percent of body weight of the dry matter intake did not vary significantly;
however, the intake per kg metabolic body weight in group T1 was significantly lower (75.46±2.31g/
day) in comparison to group T2 (101.06±4.31g/day). The DCP and TDN contents of both the silages
were not significant from each other though the values were higher in oats silage (4.25±0.05and
62.55±0.19) in comparison to the maize silage (3.53±0.05 and 55.02±0.47). The ADG of the calves
did not varies significantly between the groups though the efficiency of feeding observed in T1
(9.94±0.83) group was significantly better compare to group T2 (15.25±2.32). Significantly lower
cost of feeding per kg gain was recorded in the calves with oats silage (Rs. 42.68/kg gain) in comparison
to calves fed with maize silage (Rs. 68.85/kg gain) indicating oats silage have better effect on the
growth performances, nutrient digestibility and cost efficiency in comparison to maize silage in
crossbred growing calves.