author(s)
Singh Chetan, Chauhan PA, Parmar VN and Thakur Dinesh

abstract
An experiment was conducted for nutritional evaluation of arhar (pigeon pea) straw. Twelve cattle (150-200 kg) divided into 2 equal groups were offered treatments viz. T₁ (control) having concentrate mixture (45%) + wheat straw (55%) and T₂ (Treatment): concentrate mixture (30) + arhar straw (70). The growing cattle were fed as per ICAR (1998) feeding standards to meet their nutrient requirements in terms of DM, DCP and TDN. The DMI on% basis and CP intake was comparable (P>0.05) between treatment T₁ and T₂ while DMI on kg/kg W^0.75 and kg/day was higher (P<0.05) in T2 than T1 similarly DCP and TDN intakes were (P<0.05) higher in T2. The total and average daily gain were significantly higher (P<0.05) in T₂ than T₁. The digestibility of CP were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 than T1 while digestibility of other nutrients (DM, OM, EE and CF) was comparatively higher (P>0.05) in T₂ than T₁. The average values of NH₃-N, total-N and protein-N concentrations in rumen liquor under T₂ were higher as compared to T₁ while TVFA content was similar between the groups. The efficiency of feed utilization was also superior in T₂ than T₁.The daily cost of feeding was Rs 48.80 and 42.66, while the cost of feeding (Rs/kg gain) was 108.27 and 76.94, respectively in T₁ and T₂ group.