Performance and Some Blood Serum Constituents of Growing Buffalo Calves Fed Rations Containing Corn Silage

The study involved 20 growing male buffalo calves, divided into two groups, to assess the effects of feeding corn silage alone versus a control ration. The group fed only corn silage exhibited clinical signs of deficiencies in copper, zinc, selenium, and vitamin A, including unthriftiness, weight loss, rough hair coat, alopecia, hypopigmentation, diarrhea, ocular discharge, and coughing. Blood serum analysis confirmed significant reductions in these trace elements, calcium, vitamin A, and total proteins, alongside hypochromic microcytic anemia indicative of copper deficiency. Supplementation with a concentrate feed mixture, copper methionate, vitamin A, and dietary minerals successfully alleviated these symptoms and normalized blood parameters. The study concluded that corn silage alone was not a balanced diet for growing calves.