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Effects of replacement of wheat straw with corn stover-based TMR on growth performance, behavioral characteristics, selected blood metabolites, and nutrient digestibility in Beetal bucks

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Abstract

An experiment was executed to determine the effects of replacing wheat straw with corn stover on growth performance, behavioral characteristics, blood metabolites, and nutrient digestibility in Beetal bucks (23.92 ± 0.79 kg; age = 10 ± 1 month). A total of twenty four Beetal bucks were assigned randomly to one of three treatment groups, having eight animals each, for 15-week experimental period excluding adaption period of 2 weeks. The dietary treatments included conventional (25% wheat straw and 75% concentrate), corn stover 50 (50% of wheat straw (12.5%) was replaced with corn stover), and corn stover 100 (wheat straw was completely replaced with corn stover). Parameters were evaluated regarding growth performance, behavioral recording, digestibility, chemical analysis of feed and fecal materials, rumen pH, fecal score, and blood metabolite measurements. Dietary replacement of wheat straw with corn stover has resulted in an increased dry matter intake and average daily gain significantly (P ≤ 0.05) by 10 and 26%, respectively in the bucks. Rumen pH and fecal score, however, remained unaffected by dietary replacement of wheat straw with corn stover in the bucks. The replacement of wheat straw with corn stover has resulted in an increased feeding and rumination time, improved lying time and length, and decreased number of bouts in the bucks. Blood glucose, urea, bilirubin, and calcium levels were remained unaffected by replacing wheat straw with corn stover. The blood phosphorous level, however, was lower in bucks fed corn stover-based ration. The bucks fed corn stover-based ration has resulted in an increased digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, and neutral and acid detergent fiber compared to those fed wheat straw-based total mixed ration. It was concluded that replacement of wheat straw with corn stover as fiber residue in the ration of bucks has resulted in an increased dry matter intake and higher average daily gain, improved behavioral characteristics, and higher nutrient digestibility.

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The authors declare that all the data and materials used in this study comply with field standards and available on demand.

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Acknowledgements

It is utmost pleasure to avail this opportunity to express deep sense of obligation to Prof. Dr. Saima, Chairperson Department of Animal Nutrition, UVAS, Ravi Campus, Pattoki, for provision of laboratorial facilities for chemical analysis in a CLC and departmental nutritional laboratory. Authors very thankful to Dr. Imran Mohsin, farm manager small ruminants training and research center, B block, UVAS, Ravi Campus, Pattoki, for provision of animals, feed, and infrastructure during biological trial.

Funding

This study was funded by the Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Ravi Campus, Pattoki, Pakistan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Animal Production and Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

    Faisal Majeed, Saeed Ahmed & Muhammad Afzal Rashid

  2. Department of Livestock Management, Faculty of Animal Production and Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

    Muhammad Qamar Shahid & Imran Mohsin

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  1. Faisal Majeed
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  2. Saeed Ahmed
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  3. Muhammad Afzal Rashid
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  4. Muhammad Qamar Shahid
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  5. Imran Mohsin
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by SA, MAR, MQS, and IM, The first draft of the manuscript was written by FM and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Saeed Ahmed.

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All the procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, and approval was granted by the Animal Ethical Review Committee.

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Majeed, F., Ahmed, S., Rashid, M.A. et al. Effects of replacement of wheat straw with corn stover-based TMR on growth performance, behavioral characteristics, selected blood metabolites, and nutrient digestibility in Beetal bucks. Trop Anim Health Prod 54, 115 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03114-w

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