Nutrient intake and utilization of berseem straw based feed block in calves

Abstract

Crop residues like straws, stovers and grasses form the major component of livestock diet but these roughages are low (65-75 kg/M(3)) in bulk density (Kumar et al., 2004) which creates difficulty in handling, transportation and storage. Compaction of straws to high-density blocks can solve some of these problems. Therefore, in the present investigation, berseem straw alone or in combination with concentrate was densified at 3000 psi. to study the compaction behaviour of the feed block and its utilization in crossbred calves