Effect of different levels of Zinc supplementation on utillization of non proteinous nitrogen and production performance of buffalo -calves [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Twenty male of buffalo-calves weighing 216 kg:!: 1.5 kg on average and aged one year were used in 208 days ( feeding trials ).Animals were divided into four groups (5 calves each) G1,G2,G3 and G4 ,respectively to study the effect of different levels of Zinc supplementation on animal performance, nutrient digestibility, some blood parameters, carcass characteristic and feed efficiency. Calves were individually fed on rations consisted of concentrate feed mixture and rice straw, provided with 1 % urea and zinc sulfate (ZnS04) at different levels being 0,40,80 and 120 mg/kg OM intake, respectively._ Results showed that digestibility of OM, OM, CP, CF, EE and NFE, nutritive values (as TON ), daily gain, feed conversion (as kg OM, kg TON, kg OCP/kg gain) and eye muscle area (cm2) were significantly increased by increasing zinc supplementation levels. Supplementing 40 mg IKg OM intake (OM I) of zinc to concentrate feed mixture (G2) was significantly increased levels of total protein, albumin, globulin and Zn in plasma and decreased plasma urea concentration of buffalo-calves. It also significantly decreased weight of different organs and kidney fat . Moreover economic efficiency was higher and feed cost /kg gain was decreased by adding zinc in concentrate feed mixture compared with control. Generally, addition of zinc improved nutrients digestibility, daily gain, feed conversion and economic efficiency and did not affect carcass characteristics. Keywords: Buffalo-calves-Zinc-Oigestibility-Nutritive value-Daily gain - Feed conversion - Blood parameters - Carcass - Economic efficiency.

Summary in Arabic.

1