Effect of soymilk as partial milk replacer on feed intake and growth performance on Murrah buffalo calves

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of soymilk as a partial milk replacer on growth performance and feed intake on Murrah buffalo calves. The results of the experiment conducted on Murrah buffalo calves revealed that the body weight changes, daily feed intake, protein intake, dry matter intake, average daily dry matter intake from calf starter and green fodder (% body weight) were non-significantly (P<0.05) varied between the groups. The effect of feeding different proportions of whole milk and soymilk on growth and feed efficiency parameters like average daily body weight gain, feed conversion ratio were also found non-significant (P<0.05) between the groups. Body measurements like wither height was also non-significantly difference (P>0.05) between the groups. Body length was no significant difference (P>0.05) between M and SM20 groups. Body measurements were not significant different (P>0.05) between the groups. Blood parameters (PCV and Hb) and faecal score were also found non-significant between the different groups.