SOYMILK AS BUFFALO MILK SUBSTITUTE IN FEEDING NEW BORN BUFFALO CALVES X- THE EFFECT OF REPLACEMENT OF WHOLE BUFFALO MILK BY SOYBEAN MILK ON SUCKLING BUFFALO CALVES PERFORMANCE

The present study aimed to evaluate the use of soybean milk (SBM) as a substitute of buffalo milk (8M) in feeding newborn catves. A feeding experiment was conducted using 32 newborn buffalo calves (16 males and 16 females). Animals were divided into four similar groups, 8 calves in each and fed the respective four feeding treatments :(1) BM + SBM (1:1) till weaning age, (2) 8M + SBM (1:2) till weaning age, (3) S8M till weaning age and (4) BM till weaning age. All groups were offered calf starter and berseem hay besides the experimental treatments ad lib from the second week of age till weaning Fresh water was available all time. Daily feed intake and biweekly body weight for each calf was recorded. Four digestibility trails were carried out during the experiment at the fifteen week of age to determine the nutritive value of the experimental rations. Calves were weaned at 105 days, while. daily intake, weight gain during the sodding were recorded. Feed conversion (TDN/kg weight gain) and the economical efficiency (feed cost /kg weight gain) for each calf were calculated. Results showed that, calves fed rations containing 51314 showed significantly low daily intake than those of the control group. Moreover, the daily gains were similar with control group with non-significant differences among groups during the different experimental periods. The feed conversions as 1DN/1<g gain were improved by adding SBM with significant differences between groups sodding SBM and control group. The results also indicated that, values of feed costs for the group received SBM were significantly lower than those fed other groups. It can be concluded that the artificial rearing using SBM with adding 1% soybean oil helps calves to grow faster with better-feed conversion efficiency and lower cost of growth (G3).