Effects of dietary protein and energy levels on growth performance in dairy cattle fed dried whole sugarcane roughage based

Abstract

Twenty four growing Holstein crossbred dairy cattle (average weight 144.1+11.0 kg; average age 9+1.2month) were used in a feeding trial to determine the effect of dietary energy and protein intake on feed intake andweight gain and blood metabolites of the cattle fed whole sugarcane forage based diets. Treatments were appliedaccording to a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design. Dietary treatments were assignedto containing crude protein (CP) intake either 6, 10 or 14 gCP/kgW0.75/d. and metabolizable energy (ME) intakeeither 792 or 885 kJ ME/kgW0.75/d. Higher dietary CP intake level increased dry matter and organic matter intake.Average daily gain (ADG) was increased curvilinear by dietary protein intake levels. High level of dietary CP intakeresulted in high blood urea nitrogen and blood glucose (P<0.01). In conclusion, dried whole sugarcane could be usedas a roughage for growing Holstein crossbred dairy cattle, and the optimum nutrient level was of protein (10 gCP/kgW0.75) and energy (885 kJ ME/kgW0.75) for maximum weight gain of 710 gram per day and improvement growthperformance.