Effect of Protected Calcium Salts of Fatty Acid-Amino Acid on Growth Rate of Young Ongole Crossbred Bulls

Abstract

Background: Protected calcium salts-fatty acid-amino acid supplement contains high-density of energy that can be used as cattle feed. This study aimed to test the efficacy of the supplements in the growth rate of young Ongole crossbred bulls. Methods: Thirty Ongole crossbred bulls (345±14 kg; live weight±SEm) were ranked and blocked based on liveweight and randomly allotted to one of three supplement levels (A: null 0 g/kg; B: 0.3 g/kg and C: 0.6 g/kg LWs) and 10 replicates. All bulls were offered elephant grass and a concentrate diet containing 12% crude protein and 65% of total digestible nutrients. The parameters were liveweight gain, hip height gain, body condition score, feed conversion ratio, plasma fat and glucose concentrations, back fat and muscle depth. Result: There was no significant difference in feed intake among treatment groups (P greater than 0.05). All bulls ate around 11 kg/d on a DM basis, equal to around 2.8% LW. Bulls in C group were heavier and gained more weight (P less than 0.05) and required less feed/kg LWG. The depths of backfat and muscle depth were no differences between treatments (P greater than 0.05). The inclusion of 0.6 g/kg LW of the supplement improve the growth rate of young Ongole crossbred bulls.