Nutritional Impact of Partial Replacement of Cotton Seed Meal with Distillers Dried Grain with Solubles (DDGS) on Animal Performance, Digestion Coefficients and Some Blood Constituents in Crossbred Calves

This feeding trail was conducted to investigate the effects of partial replacing of cotton seed meal (CSM) with distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) at levels 0, 25 and 50% on growth performance, digestion coefficients and economic efficiency in crossbred calves fed for 90 days. Hemogram and serum biochemical parameters were also determined. Thirty male crossbred (Baladi x Friesian) calves (322.00±3.00 kg BW), were randomly assigned into three equal groups. Group 1 (G ) fed control fed dietary supplemented with 20% CSM. 1 Groups 2 and 3 (G and G ) received dietary supplemented with 5% and 10% DDGS that equal replacement 25% 2 3 and 50% of CSM in control ration, respectively. The experimental diets were offered twice daily in two equal portions at 8.30 am. and 14.30 pm. , while wheat straw and water were offered ad libitum. The composition of experimental diets was analyzed for nutritive values. Also nutrient digestibility coefficients and nutritive values (%) by the experimental groups were calculated. Growth performance, water intake and economic evaluation of the experimental groups were evaluated. At the end of the experiment, blood was collected from all groups for assessment of hematological and biochemical parameters. Results revealed that incorporation DDGS at different levels (0, 5 and 10%) in concentrate feed mixtures slightly decreased NDF, ADF, ADL and cellulose contents, however, slightly increased hemicellulose contents. Replacement 25 or 50% of CSM with DDGS significantly (P<0.05) improved both total body weight gain and average daily gain compared to control diet. While, dry matter intake of CFM, wheat straw and total dry matter intake insignificantly (P>0.05) increased with increasing level of replacement of CSM by DDGS. On the other hand, feed conversion expressed as (kg DM intake/kg gain) significantly (P<0.05) improved with incorporation DDGS in the rations (G and G ) compared 2 3 to control (G ). DDGS in calves rations caused slightly increasing in total daily feeding costs of experimental 1 rations by 0.85% for G while, 3.41% for G compared to control G . Meanwhile, average daily gain, daily profit 2 3 1 above feeding cost and relative economic efficiency for G and G were improved in comparison with control 2 3 (G ). The values of packed cell volume was significantly decreased (P<0.05) while mean corpuscular volume was 1 increased in G in comparison to control group. No significant differences in hemoglobin concentration, red 3 blood cell count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration between all groups were recorded. There were marked (P<0.05) decrease in total leukocyte, lymphocyte and monocyte counts in G and G in comparison with control group. But the neutrophil count was obviously increased in G 2 3 2 than control group. The results showed that total globulins, glucose and triglycerides levels and gamma glutamyl transferase activity significantly decreased in both G and G compared to control group. However, 2 3 the activities of ALT and AST and serum urea levels were slightly elevated in both treated groups (G and G ) 2 3 compared to the control group. However, there were no significant differences in total serum cholesterol, creatinine, total proteins and albumin levels between all groups. In conclusion, DDGS can be used safety in calves ration formulation up to 10% (replaced 50% of CSM) causing improvement in growth performance, nutrient digestibility coefficients, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio and economic efficiency with very mild adverse effect on some blood constituents.