Performance of growing yak calves on different planes of nutrition

Four divergent rations with 2 levels of DCP and TDN (100 and 75%) namely low protein-low energy (LP-LE), low protein-high energy (LP-HE), high protein-low energy (HP-LE) and high protein-high energy (HE-HP) were supplied to 24 growing yaks (12 male and 12 female) randomly divided into 4 groups of 6 animals (3 male and 3 female) each in completely randomized design. The average daily gain and feed efficiency was highest in HE-HP group. The blood glucose level was highest in HP-HE group in comparison to the others; however, plasma protein, albumin and urea levels were almost similar for all the experimental groups. The study revealed that growing yak calves ranging from 250 to 300 kg body weight consumed an average 79.86 g DM, 6.10 g DCP and 47.15 g TDN/kg W^0.75/day to support an average body weight gain of 371.8 g/day.