Description
Mulberry (Morus alba) is a multipurpose fodder tree with a high voluntary intake. Mulberry foliage is characterized by high digestibility and excellent level of protein which makes it comparable to commercial concentrates for dairy cattle. o evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of mulberry leaf meal as a concentrate replacement (20%) in the crossbred heifers ration the present investigation was carried out at dairy farm Dr YSPUHF Nauni Solan. In the study, a total of 12 cross bred heifers (1-2 yr) were divided into two equal groups of 6 animals each, on the basis of body weight. The animals of the treatment group were supplemented with mulberry leaf meal to replace concentrate mixture at the level of 20% for a period of 4 months. All the animals under experiment were weighed and blood samples were collected at fortnightly intervals to assess the live weight gain and hematological profile. The mulberry leaf meal contained 15.44 % CP, 14.32 % ash, 15.27 % CF, 43.57% NDF and 31.66 % ADF. The mean body weight (159.65kg), weight gain (40.65kg), average daily gain (338.75gm/day) blood glucose (41.07 mg/dl) and blood total protein (83.27 g/litre) was higher in the treatment group as compared to the body weight (157.08 kg), weight gain (37.36kg), average daily gain (311.33gm/day), blood glucose (40.09 mg/dl) and blood total protein (82.03 g/litre) of the control group. Mean Hb concentration was higher in crossbred heifers of the treatment group (9.19 g/dl) as compared to the control group (9.17g/dl). While blood creatinine (µmol/lt) and blood urea level (mmol/litre) were higher in the control group (116.08 and 5.67) as compared to the treatment group (112.34 and 5.09). The study concluded that the replacement of concentrate mixture @ 20% by mulberry leaf meal in animal feeding resulted in better growth performance at a lower cost and did not have any adverse effect haematological profile of the crossbred heifers.
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Evaluation of Mulberry Leaf Meal Feeding on the Growth and Hematological Profile of Cross Bred Heifers
Mulberry (Morus alba) is a multipurpose fodder tree with a high voluntary intake. Mulberry foliage is characterized by high digestibility and excellent level of protein which makes it comparable to commercial concentrates for dairy cattle. o evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of mulberry leaf meal as a concentrate replacement (20%) in the crossbred heifers ration the present investigation was carried out at dairy farm Dr YSPUHF Nauni Solan. In the study, a total of 12 cross bred heifers (1-2 yr) were divided into two equal groups of 6 animals each, on the basis of body weight. The animals of the treatment group were supplemented with mulberry leaf meal to replace concentrate mixture at the level of 20% for a period of 4 months. All the animals under experiment were weighed and blood samples were collected at fortnightly intervals to assess the live weight gain and hematological profile. The mulberry leaf meal contained 15.44 % CP, 14.32 % ash, 15.27 % CF, 43.57% NDF and 31.66 % ADF. The mean body weight (159.65kg), weight gain (40.65kg), average daily gain (338.75gm/day) blood glucose (41.07 mg/dl) and blood total protein (83.27 g/litre) was higher in the treatment group as compared to the body weight (157.08 kg), weight gain (37.36kg), average daily gain (311.33gm/day), blood glucose (40.09 mg/dl) and blood total protein (82.03 g/litre) of the control group. Mean Hb concentration was higher in crossbred heifers of the treatment group (9.19 g/dl) as compared to the control group (9.17g/dl). While blood creatinine (µmol/lt) and blood urea level (mmol/litre) were higher in the control group (116.08 and 5.67) as compared to the treatment group (112.34 and 5.09). The study concluded that the replacement of concentrate mixture @ 20% by mulberry leaf meal in animal feeding resulted in better growth performance at a lower cost and did not have any adverse effect haematological profile of the crossbred heifers.
