Feed Intake, Weight Gain and Haematology in Crossbred Heifers Fed on Green Maize (Zea mays) and Anjan Tree Leaves (Hardwicikia binata roxb.)

A feeding management experiment was conducted to determine the effect of green maize and anjan tree leaves on the performance of crossbred heifers. Fifteen crossbred heifers of 7 to 26 months age and 79 kg average initial body weight were divided into three equal groups, T1, T2, T3 having green maize (zea mays) + jawar straw+ concentrate, 40: 60 anjan tree leaves (hardwickia binata roxb. ) + Green maize + jawar straw + concentrate, 60: 40 anjan tree leaves (hardwickia binata roxb. ) + Green maize + jawar straw + concentrate respectively. The trial was conducted with the help of factorial randomized block design (FRBD). Higher mean DM content was observed in anjan leaves (41.85) than green maize (25.75) on per cent DM basis. While CP content were higher in 60: 40 anjan tree leaves+green maize mixed forage 60: 40 and anjan tree leaves alone. Ash contents were significantly higher in jawar straw containing diet as compared to green maize and anjan tree leaves. Mean daily DMI was higher on T1 followed by T2 and T3. Daily water intake was significantly higher in T2 and T3 than T1. Highest body weight was observed on green maize T1 and T2 40: 60 anjan trees leaves green maize mixed forage. Blood glucose level decreased, from 42.85 to 42.40 mg/dl on feeding T1 control diet. While levels showed an increase from 37.62 to 46.25 and 39.14 to 48.20 mg/dl in heifers on feeding T2 and T3 rations over 17 weeks period. On the other hand, serum total cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels exhibited improvement irrespective of treatments in all heifers. The increase was from 75.64 to 81.84, 75.89 to 83.18 and 75.20 to 82.25 mg/dl in serum total cholesterol levels under T1, T2 and T3 group heifers. While the increase in serum triglyceride values were from 5.46 to 5.77, 5.78 to 6.32 and 6.15 to 6.75 mg/dl in T1, T2 and T3 heifers respectively. The level of blood parameters were found within the prescribed range of heifers. Hence it could be said that feeding of leguminous anjan tree leaves in combination with green maize along with dry roughage and concentrate had no health challenges to crossbred heifers