~ 2394 ~ The Pharma Innovation Journal 2022; 11(12): 2394-2397 ISSN (E): 2277-7695 ISSN (P): 2349-8242 NAAS Rating: 5.23 TPI 2022; 11(12): 2394-2397 © 2022 TPI www.thepharmajournal.com Received: 08-09-2022 Accepted: 12-10-2022 NS Chavan Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India Dr. DS Chauhan Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India SB Gajmal Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India PR Chavan Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India Corresponding Author: NS Chavan Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India Effect of different feed combination on growth performance of Deoni heifer calves NS Chavan, Dr. DS Chauhan, SB Gajmal and PR Chavan Abstract The experiment was conducted on effect of different feed combination on growth performance of Deoni heifer calves. The research was conducted by Randomized block design with four treatments: T1- Dry fodder (jowar Kadbi) + Green fodder (jowar multicut) + concentrate mixture-I, T2 -Dry fodder (jowar Kadbi) + Green fodder (jowar multicut) + concentrate mixture-II, T3 -Dry fodder (jowar Kadbi) + Green fodder (jowar multicut) + concentrate mixture-III, T4 -Dry fodder (jowar Kadbi) + Green fodder (jowar multicut) + concentrate mixture-IV. The all Deoni calves exhibited satisfactory growth rate and difference were significant. The per Kg body weight was higher in T2 treatment. Body measurement (chest girth, length, height, belly girth) was also higher in T2 treatment. The treatment T2 demonstrated a better and desirable result than the treatments T1, T3 and T4. Keywords: Deoni heifers, concentrate mixture, growth performance, body weight Introduction About 20.5 million people depend upon livestock for their livelihood as Livestock contributed 16% to the income of small farm household. Livestock provides livelihood to two-third of rural community. It also provides employment to about 8.8% of the population in India. Livestock sector contributes 4.11% GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP. (Anonymous, 2018) [4] According to 20th livestock census (2019) India is world’s highest livestock population at about 535.78 million. India has 192.49 million cattle, 109.85 million Buffalo, Goats 148.88 million and Sheep 74.26 million populations. India has second largest poultry market in the world and also second largest producer of fish in world. Register breed of Cattle; 41, Buffalo; 13, Goat; 28, Sheep; 42 founds in India. (20 th Livestock Census 2019) In livestock production the major problem is the unavailability of quality feed and its high cost; resulting in reduced profitability and low productivity through adversely affecting health, production and reproduction. (Jabber et al., 2006) [12] . For marginal farmer, affording good quality concentrate is becoming more and more difficult due to high cost. Heifers are mostly fed on cereals straw, poor quality fodder. Since decades, search for cheaper source of alternate nutritious feeds for livestock particularly for dairy animals is going on. (Roy et al., 2015) [9] . Materials and Methods The experiment was conducted at Cattle Cross Breeding Project, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani. 24 calves were selected for the experiment. The selected experimental calves were divided into 4 groups (six calves in each group). The experiment was conducted from 26 Jan 2022 to 26 April 2022 at Cattle Cross Breeding Project. The experimental period was 90 days and 15 days pre-experimental period. Ingredient used in T 1 treatment- Sugras, T 2 – maize+ Cotton seed cake + soyabean + Tur + Mineral mixture + salt, T 3 – Sorghum + Cotton seed cake + soyabean + Tur+ Mineral mixture + salt, T 4 – Wheat+ Cotton seed cake + soyabean + Tur + Mineral mixture + salt. In treatment T 1 , T 2 , T 3 and T 4 the average body weight of the calves were 118.5, 121.66, 120.5 and 119 Kg, respectively. The observation recorded during the research was Body weight gain, body height, body length, chest girth, belly girth. The data was statistically analyzed by Randomized Block Design for testing differences between body weight and body measurements as per procedure recommended by Amble 1975.