author(s)
Avinesh Sharma and Chander Datt

abstract
The present study was conducted to see the effect of supplementation of Kappaphycus alvarezii based seaweed product on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance in crossbred cattle. In this study, 18 lactating crossbred (Karan fries) cows were divided into 3 groups of 6 animals each based on milk yield, body weight, parity and days in milk. The cows in treatment T₁ were fed rations as per their nutrient requirements. The cows in treatments T₂ and T₃ were fed the similar rations in control (T₁), however, the diets were supplemented with K. alverazii based sea weed powder (K. alvarezii powder: Gracilaria salicornia powder: K. alvarezii sap powder in 1: 1: 1 ratio) @ 1.5 and 3% of ration (on dry matter basis), respectively. The study lasted for 150 days. The feed intake, digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen balance were not influenced by sea weed powder supplementation.