Alternate to soybean meal: evaluation of guar korma on growth performance, nutrient utilization and blood biochemical indices in water buffalo (<i>Bubalus bubalis</i>) calves.

IntroductionSoybean meal is a high protein, one of the major feed ingredients used in calf ration. However, high cost and limited availability restricts its application in practical ration formulation. Guar korma is a non-conventional agro-industrial by-product from guar industry, rich in protein. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the effects of substituting soybean meal with varying proportions of guar korma on the performances of Murrah buffalo calves.MethodsTwenty-four Murrah buffalo male calves (9-16 months old, average body weight of 206.18 ± 40.67 kg) were randomly allotted to three groups in a completely randomised design and subjected to three iso-nitrogenous dietary treatments consisted of graded levels of roasted guar korma, namely 0% (CON), 25% (GK-25) and 50% (GK-50), replacing soybean meal in the concentrate mixture along with wheat straw and green oats. The roasted guar korma was procured from local market and the feeding trial continued for 120 days, where voluntary feed intake, fortnightly body weight changes, feed digestibility by total collection of faeces and blood biochemical parameters (Hb, PCV, serum biochemistry) were monitored.ResultsThe replacement of soybean meal with guar korma up to 50% level did not (p > 0.05) affect dry matter intake, growth performance and haematological parameters in buffalo calves. All the animals irrespective of dietary regimes showed comparable (p > 0.05) feed efficiency and nutrient utilization. As guar korma is locally available at low cost (INR 38 vs. 55/kg; Guar korma vs. Soybean meal), there was significant reduction (INR 2210/tonne feed) in daily feeding cost (INR 5.42) with increasing guar korma in the concentrate mixture (50% inclusion) in the current production system.DiscussionThe study indicates that roasted guar korma can be used as an affordable alternative protein source to partially replace soybean meal in buffalo calf diets owing to absence of significant differences among treatments. However, future research may be carried out on its effectiveness in influencing milk production and composition with the experimental model investigated in the present study.