Abstract
A 4 x 4 calf metabolism trial with 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was conducted with ruminally cannulated buffalo calves to explore the effects of protein and energy supplementation of wheat straw based diets on total tract nutrient digestion and nitrogen metabolism of buffalo calves. The calves were fed experimental diets @ 2% of their body weight. They were fed either low energy low protein diets or high energy high protein diets. Total faeces were collected for OM, OM, Nand NOF digestion, whereas total urine was collected for N balance studies. Rumen samples were analyzed for rumen ammonia nitrogen and blood plasma samples for plasma urea nitrogen. Total tract OM and OM digestion was greater (P<0.01) tract N digestibility was found with high protein diets. Although high energy diets showed only a trend of greater N digestion, N retention (g/d) was 17.8,22.9, 16.4, and 24.3 for low energy, high energy, low protein and high protein diets respectively. Nitrogen retention-percent N intake and N retention-percent N digestion were greater.
