Effect of adding mustard oil cake and soybean meal alone or in combination in calf starter on growth and blood metabolites of dairy calves

Abstract

Abstract This study investigated the potential effect of adding mustard oil cake as a replacer of soybean meal and a mixture of both sources on dry matter (DM) intake, body growth measurements, and blood metabolites of dairy calves. Calves were fed a commercial starter (control), a starter containing mustard oil cake (MOC), soybean meal (SM), and a mixture of MOC and SM as MOCSM. The feeding of calf starters started when calves aged 21 days and was carried out for the next 63 days. Data was recorded for DM intake, growth measurements and blood metabolites. Calves consumed greater DM with MOC, which was 22.5% more than that of the control-fed but the second highest was for a mixed protein source MOCSM. The body weight gain (BWG) of calves increased significantly (p<0.01) in calf starters feeding groups. Blood glucose levels did not vary among the calves fed the control, MOC, SM, and MOCSM diets. MOC had higher serum albumin, urea, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations than the other treatments. Calcium and phosphorus concentration was lower in the control group compared to the other dietary groups. The outcome showed that mustard oil cake might be a useful option for calves' diets when soybean meal is not always available for feeding.