Effect of complete feeds based on wheat straw and Prosopis juliflora pods on growth and reproductive performance of growing crossbred heifers

A growth trial was carried out on 16 crossbred heifers from the age of 9 months to the first conception. Treatments T, T-2 and T-3 were the complete feeds with 30% wheat straw. Rice polish was replaced by Prosopis juliflora pods (mesquite pods) at 0, 10 and 20% level, respectively, in T-1, T-2 and T-3. Treatment T-4 represented the conventional system of feeding. Average daily gain was 430, 416, 433 and 383 g, in T-1, T-2, T-3, and T-3, respectively, with nonsignificant treatment differences. The average daily intake of DM, CP, DCP and TDN were similar in all the groups which resulted in similar feed efficiency and nutrient utilization. The digestibility coefficients of nutrients were similar in all the groups except higher digestibility in T-4 than T-1, T-2 and T-3. The cost of feed was observed more or less similar in all the groups. The age at first conception was least in T-3 followed by T-1, T-4 and T-2. It was concluded that heifers can be reared on complete feed with 30% wheat straw and 20% Prosopis juliflora pods replacing rice polish without any adverse effect on growth and reproduction.