• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.1245-1249
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• 2001

A study was conducted with 14 gayals to study their growth pattern from birth to 24 months of age, and gayal was compared with native calves and crossbred calves of gayals and exotic animals. A significant difference in liveweight gains up to 3 months (p<0.001) or up to 6 months (p<0.05) was found between gayal and native calves, but the difference reduced with increase of age and found non-significant (p>0.05) at 9 months and 12 months. The daily liveweight gain up to 3, 6, 9 or 12 months of age of gayals were 404.60, 306.80, 315.20 and 312.20 g/d, respectively and of native calves were 217.3, 245.3, 262.0 and 269.0 g/d, respectively. Gayal female calves had lower weights at birth (20.2 kg) and weaning (81.8 kg) and daily liveweight gains (298.5 g/d) than males (24.3 kg, 84.0 kg and 317.8 g/d, respectively) but the differences were not significant (p>0.05). Cross breeding gayal cows with Friesian bulls increased daily liveweight gain of the crossbred calves. The rate of increase of daily liveweight gain may further be increased if gayals are crossed with beef type animals, and optimum feeding may also be required which needs further research.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.813-817
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• 2003

Taramira (Eruca sativa) cake, an unconventional oil cake, replaced 25 and 50 per cent crude protein of mustard cake in the ration of crossbred calves in an experiment of 90 days duration. Total glucosinolate content of the three concentrate mixture was almost similar (18.19, 17.95 and $17.95{\mu}mol/g$ dry matter), however, glucouracin was the major glucosinolate of experimental diets. Similar dry matter Intake, nutrient digestibility (except those of fibre fractions) and nitrogen balances as well as similar serum $T_3$ and $T_4$ levels and growth rate in all the groups indicated that taramira cake can replace 50 per cent crude protein of mustard cake in the diet of crossbred calves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1285-1291
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• 1999

A feeding trial was carried out over 238 days to determine the effect of compensatory growth in crossbred calves having 166 kg body weight. Fifteen crossbred calves were divided into two groups of five calves (G1 group) and ten calves (G2 group) as per randomized block design. Growth study was conducted on the feeding of wheat straw based diet containing 60 and 30 percent concentrate supplying equal amount of protein in group G1 and G2 respectively for 119 days (phase - I). At the end of phase-I, calves of G2 group were subdivided in to two groups (G3 and G4). One sub group (G4) received 60% concentrate in their diet (during 120 to 238 days of experiment) while other subgroup G3 received 30% concentrate in their diet (phase-II). The calves of G1 group continued to receive the same diet as during phase-I experiment. Mean DM intake was significantly higher in calves fed high level of concentrate (in G1 and G4 groups), which resulted in significantly higher digestibility of all nutrients except NDF. Nitrogen balance was positive in all the groups and showed significant differences in phase-II (higher nitrogen retention in G4 group than G1 group). ME intake was significantly affected by the level of dietary concentrate, being higher in high concentrate fed group (G1 and G4 than G2 and G3 group). Higher daily body weight gain in the calves of G4 group during phase-II than in G1 and G3 groups was due to compensatory growth on shifting animals from low concentrate to high concentrate based ration. Average daily body weight gain was higher in phase-I than in the phase-II. Protein and energy intake per unit body weight gain were significantly lower in calves fed high concentrate diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.268-271
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• 1998

Twenty crossbred calves of $88{\pm}5.5kg$ initial live weight and 3-4 month of age were divided into two groups and fed wheat straw and concentrate to support a 500 g daily gain in body weight. Calves in the experimental group (YC) were given a daily dose of 10 ml yeast cell suspension (YC) containing live cells $(5{\times}10^9 cells/ml)$ of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ITCCF 2094. After a growth study of 122 days metabolism trials were conducted. The calves in the YC group recorded a daily weigt gain of $492{\pm}27.8g$ as compared to $476{\pm}20.1g$ in control group. There were no significant differences in feed intake, nutrient digestibility, feed/gain ratio and nitrogen retention between the YC supplemented and control groups.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.539-543
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• 2013

Male cattle calves (n=24), 9-12 months age, with an average body weight of 120 {\pm} 20 kg were fed total mixed rations (TMR) for 120 days to determine their growth performance. Animals were divided into four groups (six of each breed): Crossbred (Friesian${\times}$Sahiwal), Dhanni, Lohani, and Cholistani. The data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance techniques under a completely randomized design. The average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (FE), and dressing percentage ranged from 639-892 g/d, 0.105-0.155 kg/kg, and 51.2-51.5%, respectively, in the different breeds. The ADG and FE did not differ between the Crossbred, Dhanni, and Lohani breeds, but these values were lower in Cholistani calves (P<0.05). The dressing percentage was similar in all breeds. The highest increase in body height was observed in Dhanni calves, but heart girth was obviously higher in Lohani calves. The feed cost per kg gain was higher for Cholistani calves but similar among Crossbred, Dhanni, and Lohani calves (P>0.05). In conclusion, Dhanni, Lohani, and Crossbred calves possess the promising potential for beef production under the rainfed (Barani) conditions of the Punjab.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.881-885
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• 1999

A growth study was conducted for 238 days in twenty crossbred cattle calves to observe the effect of dietary concentrate supplement on blood biochemical changes and serum testosterone levels. The calves were divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of five animals each. Calves of groups A and B were fed 60% and 30% concentrate, respectively, supplying equal amount of protein along with wheat straw. The calves in group C received 30% concentrate in their diet for 1 to 119 days of experiment and 60% concentrate during 120~238 days of experiment and vice versa in group D. Mean DM and TDN intake were significantly higher in group A than group B, C or D, resulted in higher daily growth rate in the former group. Blood glucose level was significantly higher in group A where as blood urea, hemoglobin, total protein, albumin, and globulin levels remained unchanged among the groups. Serum testosterone level increased with the increasing age of the animals but the level remained same in the animals of group A, B, C and D. A 30% concentrate diet does not have any severe adverse effect on the performance of crossbred cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.500-506
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• 2006

An experiment was conducted with twenty crossbred male calves (7-15 days old) divided into 4 different experimental groups on the basis of body weights to study the effect of vitamin E supplementation on the serum ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration and immune response of the calves. All the calves were fed on milk and calf starter up to 13 weeks and afterwards, they were fed on concentrate mixture and oat hay up to 32 weeks of age. In addition, the calves in groups I, II, III and IV were supplemented with 0, 125, 250 and 500 IU feed grade DL-${\alpha}$-tocopheryl acetate, respectively. Blood samples were collected at 0 day and subsequently at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 months of age to monitor the serum ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration in crossbred calves. After 24 weeks of experimental feeding, 4 animals from each group were intramuscularly inoculated with single dose (3 ml) of Haemorrhagic septiceaemia (Pasteurella multocida P52 strain) oil adjuvant vaccine. The cumulative group mean serum ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration (${\mu}g/100ml$) was 88.12, 210.11, 235.21 and 294.02 in-groups I, II, III and IV, respectively and differed significantly (p<0.001) among the four groups. Lymphocyte stimulation indices (LSI) did not differ among the groups significantly. The pooled mean ELISA antibody titer against Pasteurella multocida (P52 strain) was 788.02, 926.85, 1,214.00 and 1,109.51 for group I, II, III and IV, respectively, which indicated higher antibody titer in groups supplemented with vitamin E as compared to the control group. It may be concluded that vitamin E supplementation increased the ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration in serum and dietary supplementation of vitamin E at higher level has a humoral immune enhancing effect against killed bacterial antigen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1110-1115
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• 2005

To study the effect of feeding lactic acid producing bacteria on the performance of cattle calves, twenty four, day old male crossbred cattle calves (Bos indicus${\times}$Bos taurus), were distributed into two groups of 12 animals each. The animals were fed on calf starter containing wheat bran and green berseem ad libitum and milk as per requirement upto 8 weeks of age. The diet of calves of Group 2 was supplemented with 500 ml culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus-15. Total duration of the experiment was 31 weeks. There was no significant difference in intake and digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and crude protein (CP) between the groups. The rumen pH, protozoa numbers, concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA), ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3-N$), trichloroacetic acid precipitable nitrogen (TCA-ppt N) and activity of microbial enzymes (carboxymethylcellulase, xylanase, amylase and protease) were not affected due to probiotic supplementation. Average live weight gain of the calves was improved (about 10%) and feed:gain ratio was reduced (about 5%) in the animals given Lactobacillus culture. The data indicated that crossbred calves could be reared on a diet devoid of cereal grain and addition of Lactobacillus culture in the diet resulted in an added advantage in growth performance of the animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1569-1576
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• 2011

Accurate assessment of the nutritional status of Nguni cattle is becoming increasingly important in determining their mechanism for adaptation to challenging environments. Changes in body weights and concentrations of total protein (TP), albumin, globulin, glucose, cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), phosphorus (SIP), calcium and magnesium were determined in Nguni and crossbred calves raised on natural pasture from birth until weaning. At an early age, TP concentration in crossbreds was higher (p<0.05) than that of Nguni calves. However, TP levels increased with age in Nguni calves so that Nguni's had higher (p<0.05) TP levels than crossbreds at weaning. Nguni calves had higher (p<0.05) glucose concentrations than crossbreds in all the ages except in the third month. Serum NEFA levels in Nguni calves were higher (p<0.05) than in crossbreds at all ages except for the second month. Calcium levels decreased (p<0.05) with age in both genotypes. The blood TP concentrations tended to decrease (p<0.05) as body weight increased up to 80 kg, thereafter blood TP concentration increased (p<0.05) as body weight increased. Calcium concentrations in crossbred calves decreased (p<0.05) quadratically as the body weight increased. There was, however, a linear increase (p<0.05) in calcium concentrations in Nguni calves. The higher NEFA and TP concentrations at weaning and the TP increase in Nguni calves beyond 80 kg suggest that Nguni's utilise fibrous feeds better than crossbreds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.188-194
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• 2002

To study the effect of wheat bran and lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB) on the performance of calves, 20 crossbred male cattle calves (day old), distributed into two groups were fed on calf starters containing 50 or 0% maize grain, along with green berseem ad libitum and milk as per body weight. Each group was further divided into two sub groups and one subgroup of each group was supplemented with mixed culture of LAB (Lactobacillus acidophilus L. casei, L. Jugarti). Milk feeding was discontinued after 8 weeks of age. The addition of culture increased (p<0.05) DM intake in calves receiving grainless diet from eighth week to the thirteenth one. There was about 21% higher body weight gain and 14% lower feed : gain ratio in culture supplemented calves. DM digestibility was significantly lower (p<0.05) in calves getting grain without culture. The crude protein NDF and ADF digestibility was higher (p<0.05) in grainless than the grain fed group. No major change on rumen fermentation pattern among different treatments was found. The concentration of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) and protozoa count was higher (p<0.05) in grain fed group. However, lactic acid concentration was higher and rumen pH was lower due to culture feeding. The incidence as well as severity of diarrhoea was reduced in culture supplemented group. The results indicate that crossbred calves can be reared successfully on grainless diet and berseen fodder. The performance of calves was also improved by LAB supplementation.