EFFECT OF FEEDING XYLANASE AND CELLULASE TREATED OAT SILAGE ON NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY, GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD METABOLITES OF NILI RAVI BUFFALO CALVES

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding different levels of oat silage (Avena sativa) with and without combination of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (xylanase and cellulase) treatment on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and blood metabolites of Nili-Ravi buffalo calves. Three iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets with oat silage to concentrate ratio of 50: 50, 60: 40 and 70: 30 were formulated. Thirty six Nili-Ravi buffalo calves (9 months old) were used in 2x3 factorial arrangement under Randomized Complete Block Design. In first group, the diets were treated with enzymes (Econase Red L (R)) before feeding to buffalo calves. The diets with oat silage to concentrate ratio of 50: 50, 60: 40 and 70: 30 treated with enzymes were ET50, ET60 and ET70, respectively. In second group, the diets without enzyme treatment were fed to buffalo calves. The diets with oat silage to concentrate ratio of 50: 50, 60: 40 and 70: 30 without enzyme treatment were ET50, ET60 and ET70, respectively. Data regarding weight gain, nutrient digestibility, blood glucose and blood urea nitrogen were collected. Digestibility of nutrients was determined by total collection method. Results showed that the dry matter (DM) intake of calves fed exogenous fibrolytic enzymes treated and untreated oat silage was not significantly (P>0.05) different whereas the digestibility of DM, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber was significantly increased (P<0.05) for all enzymes treated diets compared to calves fed oat silage without enzyme treatment. Non-significant (P>0.05) differences were observed in blood glucose and blood urea nitrogen level at 0, 3, 6 and 9 h post-prandial. Total weight gain (122.13 -139.18 kg) and average daily weight gain (0.317-0.541 kg) of calves fed enzyme treated diets were significantly higher (P<0.05) than calves fed oat silage without enzyme treated diets. Enzyme treatment improved animal performance and nutrient digestibility. However, the performance of claves fed low concentrate and high silage diets either with or without enzyme treatment was better compared to other diets.