Abstract
Twelve Marecha calves were allotted randomly to two comparable groups of 6, (3 male and 3 female). First group animals were reared under intensive management system (IMS), fed concentrate @ 1 kg/h/d plus crop residues of gram (Cicer arientinum) adlibitum while in second group, calves were reared under semi-intensive management system (SIMS), sent for grazing 8 hours daily plus gram crop residues ad lib. Twice watering was done in both the groups. At end of trial mean body weight and ADG of male and female calves was significantly increased (P< 0.05) in IMS (80.83 +/- 2.7, 77.83 +/- 2.7 kg and 0.674 +/- 0.02, 0.649 +/- 0.02 kg/d) than SIMS (50.33 +/- 2.7, 45.16 +/- 2.7 kg and 0.419 +/- 0.02, 0.376 +/- 0.02 kg/d), respectively. Intake of crop residues varied (P< 0.05) between groups (6.93 +/- 0.45, 6.37+ 0.45; 4.09 +/- 0.46, 3.83 +/- 0.46 kg/d in male and female calves, respectively). In behavioral preference the first in order was kari (Capparis spinosa), dhaman (Cenchrus ciliaris) and kikar (Acacia nilotica) among bushes, grasses and trees, respectively. Different biometrical parameters were significantly increased (P<0.05) in IMS as compared to SIMS. Regarding blood chemistry, the levels of hemoglobin, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, calcium and phosphorus were higher (P<0.05) in calves of IMS than SIMS while urea, creatinine and sugar were nonsignificantly different among groups of both management systems. The total feeding cost per calf for 120 days was higher in IMS than SIMS while the cost per kg body weight gain was less and economical in the former as compared to the latter group.