Developing maize silage and ryegrass blends based fattening ration for the low-input small-and medium scale fattening farmers in Pakistan

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to explore the effects of developing maize silage and ryegrass forage blend based fattening rations on intakes of dry matter (DM), nutrients and metabolizable energy (ME), digestibility of DM and nutrients, body weight (BW) gain and body condition score (BCS). Five diets containing maize silage and ryegrass in the ratios of 30:70; 40:60; 50:50; 60:40 and 70:30 on DM basis in the forage mixture were evaluated in comparison to control/traditional diet. A total of 18 calves were allocated to the six experimental diets. The intake of all nutrients improved (P < 0.05) with the incorporation of blends of maize silage and ryegrass in the diet. Moreover, the intake of DM, organic matter (OM), and ME consistently increased (P < 0.05) with increasing maize silage inclusion levels (30 to 70%) in the forage blends, and the highest (P < 0.05) intake was recorded for diet containing 70% maize silage. The inclusion of forage blends in the diets increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and BCS as compared to the control diet. The minimum (P < 0.05) values of ADG (478 g/day) and BCS (3.00) were recorded for the control diet, and the maximum (P < 0.05) values of ADG (663 g/day) and BCS (5.75) were recorded for diet containing 70% maize silage. In conclusion, maize silage-based forage blends increased ADG of the calves by an average of 100 g/day as compared to the control diet, and the highest increase in ADG of 150 g/day was recorded for a blend containing highest proportion (70%) of maize silage.