Effect of Milk Replacer and Early Weaning Diets on Growth Performance of Buffalo Calves during Weaning Period

This study was designed to examine the cost effective feeding system of buffalo male calves for quality meat production. Twelve buffalo male calves of 15-21 days of age and 41 ± 2 kg body weight (BW) were randomly divided into three equal groups. Group A was fed milk replacer (MR) @ 8% of BW for the entire period of 90 days, group B was fed MR @ 4% of BW + early weaning diet (EWD) on ad libitum and group C was fed MR @ 4% of BW + EWD for first 45 days and later on EWD only. Average weight gain was 0.42, 0.46 and 0.52 Kg/d and dry matter intake was 0.65, 0.72 and 1.00 kg/d in groups A, B and C, respectively and the difference was significant (P 0.01). Feed efficiency was superior (P 0.01) for group A (1.55) and B (1.62) compared to C (1.94). Feed cost per kg weight gain of group C was 52 and 25% less than calves in group A and B, respectively. In trial I (at 8th week), digestibility of both DM and CP was higher (P 0.01) in group A (96.28 and 94.32%) than B (87.53 and 85.92%) and C (88.32 and 84.46%). Similar trend of DM and CP digestibility was found in trial II (at 12th week). Dressing percentage of group C was the highest (P 0.05), however, carcass composition and weights of non-carcass components differed non significantly among groups. Feeding calves MR @ 4% of BW + EWD on ad libitum for first 45 days and later on EWD was the most cost effective feeding system.