Effects of feeding maize hydroponic fodder on growth performance, nitrogen balance, nutrient digestibility, hematology and blood metabolites of water buffalo calves

Background: Hydroponic feeding system enables more effective utilization of the entire plant than typical grazing, which only consumes the plant's shoot. Aim: This study evaluated the effects of feeding maize hydroponic fodder on growth performance, nitrogen balance, nutrient digestibility, hematology and blood metabolites of buffalo calves. Methods: Twelve water buffalo calves, weighing an average of 112 +1.18 kg and between 8 and 10 months old, were divided into three treatments, each with four calves. Each group received one of the treatment diets: T1: the basal diet (BD) at 100%; T2: the BD plus hydroponic feed meal (HFM) at 80%: 20%; and T3: the BD plus HFM at 60%: 40%. For 100 days, each animal was fed ad libitum; the first ten days were used for nutritional adaptation, and the final ten days were used for collection. In addition to their basal diet, each animal received 200 g/day of a normal concentrate mixture to meet their maintenance needs. The basal diet included Green Hay (Lucerne) 80% and Wheat straw 20%. Each animal's daily feed consumption was noted. Calves were weighed biweekly to track growth. Upon completion of the experiment, blood samples were obtained. Results: The amount of DM consumed by ruminants fed diets, including hydroponic fodder, was considerably higher (P< 0.05). Similar trends were seen in CP, ADF, and NDF intake. Ingesting of CP was highest in animals fed T3. Animals fed diets comprising Basal diet 60% + HFM 40% had the highest levels of DM and CP digestibility. Animals fed the T3 diet (Basal diet 60% + HFM 40%) showed the best feed conversion values (P˂0.05). Blood metabolites like blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and glucose showed non-significant variations in all experimental animals. In haematology, a similar trend was seen. Conclusion: Therefore, it can be said that supplementing the diet with more HFM helped growing buffalo calves gain weight, have a lower FCR, and digest their food more efficiently.