Utilization of sugarcane by-products as complete rations for meat production in buffaloes Rao E. Raghava1, Kumar R Prasanna2, Venkata S.B. Pakala3, Rani M. Sahitya4 1Director of Research, SVVU, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh state. Email id: eraghava@yahoo.com 2Senior Scientist & Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Mamnoor, Warangal District, Telangana State-506166, E.mail ID: repalleprasannakumar@gmail.com 3Researcher, Singapore. E.mail ID: sudheerpakala@gmail.com 4Assistant Professor, Department of Livestock Products Technology, College of Veterinary Science, Koratla, Jagitial District, Telangana state-534326. Email ID: msahityarani@gmail.com Online published on 8 May, 2017. Abstract A growth trial was conducted to study the effect of feeding sugarcane byproducts based complete ration on carcass characteristics of 24 Murrah buffalo bull calves; The bull calves were divided into six groups randomly in a Randomized Block Design and fed six rations comprising of five complete rations (formulated by using sugarcane by-products and other crop residues) and one conventional ration (containing chopped hybrid Napier and concentrate mixture) and balanced concentrate mixture in the mash form for a period of 168 days; The results revealed that the average daily gain of 480 to 610 g was observed in calves fed with sugarcane by-product based diets with an intake level of 2;51 to 2;57 kg (Kg/100 kg body weight) and showed greater weight gains when compared to control group (364 g of growth rate); At the production level of 3 tons of SCT hay per acre, one acre of sugarcane crop can support 8 buffalo calves during the harvesting season; The dressing percentage on empty body weight ranged from 33% to 45%, indicating that the feeding of sugarcane by products and other crop residues based complete ration yielded the dressing percentages within the normal range without showing any adverse effects on growth performance of Murrah buffalo bull calves; Top Keywords Carcass characteristics, Dressing percentage, Meat production, Murrah buffalo bull calves, Sugarcane by-products. Top |