Fattening practices in upgraded Holstein Friesian bulls through grass based ration at BAPARD in Gopalganj

Abstract

The study was conducted to find out the study of grass based ration for cattle fattening of upgraded Holstein Frisian bulls at BAPARD cattle farm in Gopalganj. For this purpose, twelve local × Study of grass based ration for cattle fattening of upgraded Holstein Friesian bulls of average 21.39 months of age and 272.78kg live weight were divided into four equal groups. Three different rations such as: a mixed concentrate ration (T1 ), mixed concentrate ration and green grass at a ratio of 1:1 on dry matter basis (T2 ) and green grass only (pakchong) based ration without concentrate and green grass (T3 ) were selected for this experiment. Upgraded bulls were randomly distributed into three groups for three above different rations. The results found that the average daily live weight gains of three groups was 550g, 457g and 480g respectively, which were not differed significantly (P>0.05). Daily DM intake was significantly higher in T3 (9.86g/head/day) compared to T1 and T2 (P<0.05), but the digestibility found lower in T2 than other treatments. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly higher in T3 (9.86) but interestingly, cost of per kg live weight gain was the lowest in T3 (209.53 BDT) compared to other two treatments (P<0.05). Considering the above findings, a beef ration only with green grass would be the appropriate diet for the south-west area of Bangladesh for local × Holstein Frisian upgraded bulls.