Effect of Inclusion of Alfalfa Cubes Hay as a Main Source of Protein in Buffalo Calves Diet تأثیر إدخال مکعبات دریس البرسیم الحجازى کمصدر رئیسی للبروتین فی علائق عجول الجاموس
The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using alfalfa cubes hay (ACH) as a source of protein in the diet of buffalo calves for replacing cotton seed meal (CSM) through growth and finishing periods. Twenty buffalo calves with an average 276±9.24 Kg live body weight (LBW) and aged 18 months were divided into two similar groups (ten calves each) according to their live body weight using randomized complete block design, where animals were fed individually. The experimental feeding was included two periods, the first period was considered as 85 – d growing one, while the control group (CSM - diet) was fed the concentrate feed mixture (CFM) including CSM as a conventional source of protein at 2% of their live body weight (LBW) plus rice straw as a sole roughage that fed ad libitum level. The tested group (ACH - diet) was fed the same diet, but including ACH in replacing to CSM as main source of protein as well. While, the second period was assigned for the finishing period lasted for 45 – d, where animals in both groups were fed a high energy diet that fortified by certain percent of maize grains with a shift in components of concentrate feed mixture as well as alfalfa cubic hay in substitution for cottonseed meal. Over the whole experimental period, the experimental diets were formulated to be an isonitrogenous and isocaloric state. During the growing period, results indicated that the digestibilities of DM, OM, CP and CF were significantly (P<0.05) higher in ACH - diet than those of CSM – one. Otherwise, the digestibility of NFE was significantly (P<0.05) lower in tested ration (ACH) than that of control one, with no significant difference in EE digestibility between them. While during the finishing period, there were no significant differences in respect of DM, OM, CP and CF digestibilities between the two dietary treatments, except EE and NFE digestibility which were significant (P<0.05) higher with ACH - diet than those of CSM – diet. Over the whole experimental period of the trial, each of DMI, TDNI, and DCPI as well as the feed conversion that estimated as Kg DM and TDN /kg gain did not significant affected by the source of protein in calves diet. Similar results respecting growth performance and some blood parameters were found, where no significant differences due to the different sources of CP in the experimental rations (ACH vs. CSM) during the whole experimental period. Economic efficiency based on control ration (100%) was improved by (130.43%) for the calves fed ACH - diet during the whole experimental period. Specifically, from the obtained results, alfalfa cubic hay could be used as a main source of protein instead of cotton seed meal in the diet of buffalo calves with a positive discriminatory effectiveness on digestibility, feeding value, productive performance and economic efficiency.