t the erstwhile Project Directorate on Cattle (PDC), Meerut Cantt. (UP), the animal nutrition section was set up with the purpose of developing feeding practices especially for the Frieswal breed of cattle, and providing technical guidance for the feeding of different categories of cattle under Frieswal project and Indigenous Cattle Breeds Project. With the up-gradation of Project Directorate on Cattle to Central Institute for Research on Cattle (CIRC) in the year 2014, the animal nutrition section was upgraded to the Division of Cattle Nutrition & Management subsequently. Since beginning, animal nutrition section has been engaged in conducting research work on the nutrient requirement, feed conversion efficiency and studying effect of nutrition on semen quality in the Frieswal breed of cattle. The work related to standardization of management practices like housing and environmental parameter setting etc. for Frieswal bulls was also undertaken by the associated research workers.  The Division of Cattle Nutrition & Management has a well-equipped laboratory with facilities for performing routine proximate and other nutritional analyses of feed and fodder samples by using traditional procedures and automated equipments.

Besides the undertaking various research activities, the division of Cattle Nutrition & Management is also involved in the teaching, training programmes for farmers, military officers/officials and other scientific and technical personnel, organizing/attending kissan goshthis/melas, transfer of technology and providing advisories to the farmers on cattle feeding, balanced feeding, mineral mixture and different dairy production aspects.

The salient research finding and their applications are given below-

·        The Frieswal calves (ADG- 350g) grow better than Sahiwal calves (ADG- 311g) on feeding as per NRC-1978 standards

·        The growth performance of 7-10 months old Frieswal heifers was higher (ADG 710.4 g) on the diets consisting of 100% CP x 120% Energy of NRC (1988) as compared to diets consisting of 100% CP x 100% Energy (ADG 629.4g), 120% CP x 100% Energy (ADG 687.3g), 120% CP x 120% Energy (ADG 698.4 g), 100% CP x 130% Energy (ADG 692.7 g).

·        A minimum temperature between 5-15^oC and maximum temperature of below 25^oC was found comfortable thermal condition for lactating Frieswal cows. The milk production was affected with the change of climatic variables and it was also found that with per unit increase in maximum temperature from 15^oC to above 40^oC, minimum temperature from 15^oC to above 30^oC and RH from 40% to above 80%, there was reduction in wet average by 0.29, 0.22 and 0.19 percent and herd average by 0.24, 0.36 and 0.13 percent, respectively.

·        Growing Frieswal bull calves of 8-9 months age had higher ADG (690 g)  when fed with 20% higher energy than NRC-1988 compared to calves fed on NRC-1988  (679 g or roughage based Military Farm feeding scale (495 g).

·        The performance of Frieswal bull calves of 8-9 months age in terms of ADG was better on feeding level of 120% Energy x 100% CP (719 g) compared to other combinations viz. 100% Energy x 100% CP (603 g), 100% Energy x 120% CP (599 g), 120% Energy x 120% CP (648 g) of NRC-1988 and MF feeding scale (565 g). The DMI/kg weight gain was 11.98, 13.59, 14.09, 13.27 and 14.64 kg in respective groups. Bulls fed with 120% Energy x 100% CP ejaculated semen as early as 496.75 days compared to MF feeding scale of 549.75 days. Libido score was highest (8.61) in group fed with 100% Energy x 100% CP followed by group II (8.31) fed with 120% Energy x 100% CP. The mass activity (0-5 scale) and motility (%) of spermatozoa was higher in group fed with120% Energy x 100% CP.

·        The addition of mineral mixture at 1.2% of existing diets of adult Frieswal bulls had positive effect on mass motility, sperm concentration, percent sperm motility and freezing as compared to the diet at the addition of mineral mixture 0.8% of the diet. Similarly mineral addition at 3% of concentrate mixture in the diet of growing Frieswal bull calves on attainment of puberty had positive effect on percent sperm motility as compared to the diet having 2% mineral mixture (43.04 Vs 35.72%).

·        The diets consisting of 100% CP x 120% Energy of NRC-1988 yielded better growth rate in Frieswal heifers (ADG- 710.4 g) compared to other diets. Similarly bulls fed on diets formulated with  120% Energy x 100% CP ejaculated semen as earlier (496.75 days) compared to MF feeding scale (549.75 days), had higher motility and sperm concentration.

·        Diet fed to adult Frieswal bulls fortified with 1.2% of mineral mixture increased the mass motility, sperm concentration, percent sperm motility and post thaw motility compared to mineral mixture at 0.8% of the diet. Similarly diet having 3% mineral mixture in the diet of growing Frieswal bull calves favored higher percent sperm motility on attainment of puberty as compared to the diet having 2% mineral mixture (43.04 Vs 35.72%).

·        The cottonseed cake and soybean, bajra and oats, and barseem and cowpea contains higher levels of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) then other feeds/fodders amongst the categories of protein, energy and forage sources respectively.

·        The level of Zn was low in the soil and fodders as well in different parts of Meerut. The concentration of Co and Mn in blood serum of animals were lower (0.10-0.15 and 0.12-0.51 ug/ml) than critical values.

·        Changing of energy protein ratio in terms of TDN and CP at 4.68 (75% TDN and 16% CP) as compared to exiting ratio of 3.6 (72% TDN and 20% CP) in the diet of lactating Frieswal cows improved  milk yield  as well as early exhibition  of  oestrus after calving. The reduction in CP content of the concentrate mixture led to addition of lesser quantity of costly protein supplement in concentrate mixture amounting to reduction of cost of feeding of Military Farm animals.  Based on this a brain storming session was organized on March 22, 2013 and the feeding schedule of Military farms was revised vide DDG (MF) letter No. A/88857/Q/MF-2 dated 28.3.2017 in the Military Farms across the country.

·        With increasing the  concentration of Zn in diets of Frieswal bulls from 40.0 (Diet 1) to 60 (Diet 2) and 80  (Diet 3) ppm in diets have significant effect on sperm concentration (million/ml) which increased from 837.88 in diet 1 to 913.65 in diet 2 and  965.08 in diet 3 in good bulls. Similarly post thaw motility (PTM %) also  significantly increased from 46.04 in diet 1 to 49.57 in diet 2 and  49.93 in diet 3 in good bulls.

·        By increasing the levels of Mn in the diets from 55 ppm (D1)  to 65 ppm (D2) and 80 (D3) ppm Mn on DM basis in the diet of semen donating bulls, had pronounced effect on the sperm concentration both in good and poor bulls whereas the duration of supplemental feeding as indicated by sperm cycles (II and III) have improved the percent motility both in good and poor bulls, whereas other parameters either remained unaffected or abridged. Dietary Mn on 80 ppm (D3) improved sperm concentration significantly in good bulls. However, semen volume and percent motility have decreased and PTM did not change as Mn levels increased in good category of bulls.

·        Likewise increasing the concentration of Cu from 12.5 ppm (D1) to 20 ppm (D2) and 25 (D3) ppm Cu on DM basis it was observed that Cu supplementation has pronounced effect on the sperm concentration both in good and poor bulls whereas the duration of feeding as indicated by sperm cycles (II and III) has improved the percent motility both in good and poor bulls. Dietary Cu supplementation at 20 (D2) and 25 ppm (D3) improved sperm concentration and percent motility significantly in good bulls.

·        In the supplementation (in combination) of micro-minerals i.e., Cu, Mn & Zn in the diets of breeding Frieswal bulls, a feeding trial was conducted. Animals in different groups of both good and poor categories were offered basal diet with 12.5 ppm Cu,  55 ppm, Mn and 40 ppm Zn (D1); supplemented diets with 20 ppm Cu, 65 ppm Mn and 60 ppm Zn (D2)  and  25 ppm Cu,  80 ppm, Mn and 80 ppm Zn (D3). The results indicated that increased level of supplementation with combination of Cu, Mn & Zn as inorganic sulphates in the diets during entire period of feeding have significant effect on overall sperm concentration (million/ml) which increased from 752.4 in diet D1 to 768.3 in D2 and 814.4 in D3 in the bulls. There was pronounced difference in the good and poor bulls in the terms of sperm concentration (954.5 Vs 620.2 million sperms/ml semen).