Vol. 9, Special Issue 9, Part I (2025)

A study titled “Evaluation of the Impact of Jowar and Soybean Straw-Based Feeding on the Growth Performance of Sahiwal Heifers” was carried out over a period of 120 days. Twenty Sahiwal heifers were assigned to five groups based on similar age and weight. The study evaluated five feeding regimes, T₁: 100% Jowar straw (ad libitum) + 5 kg hybrid Napier + 2 kg concentrate, T₂: 75% Jowar straw + 25% Soybean straw (both ad libitum) + 5 kg hybrid Napier + 2 kg concentrate, T₃: 50% Jowar straw + 50% Soybean straw (ad libitum) + 5 kg hybrid Napier + 2 kg concentrate, T₄: 25% Jowar straw + 75% Soybean straw (ad libitum) + 5 kg hybrid Napier + 2 kg concentrate, T₅: 100% Soybean straw (ad libitum) + 5 kg hybrid Napier + 2 kg concentrate. The average daily dry matter intake per heifer was recorded as 6.525 kg (T₁), 6.624 kg (T₂), 6.751 kg (T₃), 6.684 kg (T₄), and 6.557 kg (T₅). Correspondingly, the average daily weight gain was 0.272 kg (T₁), 0.288 kg (T₂), 0.305 kg (T₃), 0.294 kg (T₄), and 0.278 kg (T₅). Statistical analysis indicated significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment groups. The heifers in the T₃ group achieved the highest daily weight gain, followed by T₄, T₂, and T₅, with T₁ showing the lowest gain. Additionally, increases in body length, height, and chest girth were greatest in T₃ and smallest in T₁. Overall, T₃ emerged as the most effective feeding strategy among the five treatments studied.