EVALUATION OF BERSEEM BASED COMPLETE FEED BLOCKS IN GLOWING BUFFALO CALVES

Experiments conducted on green berseem based feed blocks significantly affected (P<0,05) the post-compression expansion (PCE) and durability of blocks. The PCE was lower (P<0.05) at 18% as compared to other lev els of moisture in berseem. Higher durability at 70% level was found t han those of 30, 40, 50 and 60% levels ol berseem. but not the PCE of blocks. The maximum compressed and final relaxed densities were not af fected due to moisture levels in the berseem whereas. there was an inc rease in bulk density with increase in berseem levels and was maximum at 70% level followed by 60, 50. 40 and was lowest at 30% level.The co mplete feed blocks prepared by using 50% berseem wilted up to 18% mois ture were evaluated using 12 growing buffalo calves divided into 2 gro ups of 6 each. Group 1 green berseem based complete blocks and group 2 conventional feeding system were compared in a growth trial of 90 day s. The palatability as well as dry matter intake per 100 kg body weigh t as per kg metabolic body size were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T-2 group than in T-1. The digestibility coefficients of proximate pri nciples, except crude fibre remained insignificant be tween groups. Th e crude fibre digestibility was higher (P<0.05) in T-2 than that of T- 1 group whereas cost per kg gain was substantially lower in T-1 as com pared to T-2 group.