This work was undertaken at Seds Experimental Station, Animal Production
Research Institute during (2004) to study the effect of total or partial substitution of
soybean meal (SBM) by canola meal (CM) as protein supplementation in rations of
growing buffalo calves. Three isonitrogenous concentrate feed mixtures (CFMs) were
formulated by using 100% SBM, 50% SBM+ 50% CM and 100% CM as main protein
sources. These CFMs were fed to three similar groups of growing buffalo calves of an
average body weight of 116.38 a 0.28 kg and of 3-4 months of age, Calves were fed a
daily ration as 2.25% of the body weight CFM + 1% brseem hay (BH). Rice straw (R3)
was offered act (it). The experiment lasted for 140 days.
Digestibility trials using acrd insoluble ash (AlA) method were conducted at the
middle of the experimental period to evaluate the consumed rations, using three
calves for each group. Animals were biweekly weighed and the average daily gain
(ADO) was calculated.
The results showed that CM was lower in CF and higher in CF and EE than
SBM, being 38.2% vs 42.2%, 13 07 vs 3.4% and 8.24% vs 2.4%, respectively. The
ration which contained 50% SBM plus 50% CM as protein supplements (R2) showed
better OM, OM and CF digestibility coefficients than the other two rations containing
either 100% SBM (Rt) or 100% CM (R3). This ration also resulted in better ADG
(1.026kg) and feed conversion (Dlvl intake/kg gain). 5.688 kg than the other two
rations (R1 and R2) which showed 0 980. 0.978 kg A06 and 5 912, 5,762 kg feed
conversion respectively. Utilization of Rawas also better than the other rations since it
significantly [P<0.05) showed better NHa-N and VFA's in the rumen fluid than the
other two rations. These results might be due to a complementary effect between
SBM and CM. Blood serum and rumen fluid parameters showed that feeding CM was
nutritionally adequate safe on growing buffalo calves performance and health USIl'Ig
CM as protein supplement was cheaper than SBM and decrease the dependence on
soybean meal importation Moreover CM can decreased the gap of CP shortage in
Egypt