Supplementing urea molasses mineral block improves growth performances and blood biochemical parameters of Mithun calves (Bos frontalis)

Abstract

This experiment aimed to determine the effect of urea molasses mineral block (UMMB) supplementation on growth performances and blood biochemical parameters of Mithun calves (Bos frontalis). Ten growing Mithun calves were allocated into two groups (control and UMMB) and the diet including natural grass (50%) and tree forage (50%) was used as basal diet. The Mithun calves from control group were fed only basal diet and calves from treatment group were fed basal diet with supplementation of UMMB. This experiment lasted for 12 weeks and nutrient intakes, digestibility, energy status, body weight gain and blood biochemical parameters were measured. The intakes, digestibilities and digestible intakes of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre, energy intake, energy balance, mineral intake, total weight gain and average daily gain (ADG) were higher (p < 0.05) in UMMB supplemented group than in control group. The serum glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), globulin, calcium, available phosphorus, sodium and potassium concentrations of UMMB supplemented group was also significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of control group, however the albumin and chloride concentrations were not different (p > 0.05). Thus, UMMB supplementation increased the growth performances and some blood biochemical parameters of growing Mithun calves.