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Effects of maize silage substitution with sugarbeet or citrus pulp ensiled with corncobs on growth performance, digestibility, and economic benefits in buffalo calves

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Abstract

Ensiling of high-moisture agro-industrial wastes with dry roughage as animal feeds may be a secure way to reduce the feeding cost. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of either sugarbeet or citrus pulp ensiled with ground corncobs and used as a replacement of maize silage or maize fodder in total mixed ration (TMR) for fattening of buffalo calves. Twenty male calves of Nili-Ravi buffalo (aged 14 ± 2 months weighing 133 ± 5 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four iso-nutritious (12% CP and 69% TDN) experimental diets with 50:50 forage to concentrate ratio (dry matter basis) as: (1) TMR maize silage, (2) TMR sugarbeet pulp ensiled with corncobs, (3) TMR citrus pulp ensiled with corncobs, and (4) TMR green maize fodder with wheat straw. All calves received TMRs for ad libitum intake twice daily for 80-day period. Daily feed intake, fortnightly body weights, and digestibility and N balance study during last 15 days were recorded of individual animals. The calves fed TMR sugarbeet pulp silage got highest daily gain (856 g/d, P < 0.05) than citrus pulp silage (776 g/d) or green maize fodder (704 g/d). Average intake of nutrients was same among all the calves. Feed conversion ratio and digestibility of DM, NDF, and ADF were higher (P < 0.05) with TMR sugarbeet pulp silage compared to other TMRs. Economic benefit (output/input) with TMR sugarbeet pulp silage had 15.46, 34.27, and 37.36% higher effect for fattening of buffalo calves compared to citrus pulp silage, green maize fodder, and maize silage–based TMRs, respectively. In conclusion, sugarbeet pulp ensiled with ground corncobs is simple and appropriate method for silage making and its inclusion up to 50% of DM in TMR had pronounced economic impact to the production of buffalo calves.

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Funding

For this study, financial assistance provided by Agricultural Linkage Program under the project (AS-073), PARC, is highly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Livestock Research Station, Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Park Road, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan

    Muhammad Iqbal Anjum, Faisal Ashfaq & Javed Iqbal

  2. Animal Nutrition Programme, Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan

    Shahbaz Javaid

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  1. Muhammad Iqbal Anjum
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  4. Javed Iqbal
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Contributions

M.I.A. planned experiment, collected data, ran the statistical analysis, and wrote the manuscript; S.J. helped in experimental feed preparation and chemical analysis; F.A. and J.I. supervised the experimental animals and assisted in manuscript drafting.

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Correspondence to Muhammad Iqbal Anjum.

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Experimental animals were taken care and managed as per guidelines and recommendations of the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research involving Animals (CIOMS), Geneva, 1985. All practices involving in handling of animals were according to ethical Committee of Animal Sciences Institute, PARC-NARC, Islamabad, Pakistan.

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Anjum, M.I., Javaid, S., Ashfaq, F. et al. Effects of maize silage substitution with sugarbeet or citrus pulp ensiled with corncobs on growth performance, digestibility, and economic benefits in buffalo calves. Trop Anim Health Prod 54, 326 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03278-5

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