An investigation was done in 2025 to identify the factors affecting the adoption intensity of farm machinery among wheat farmers in Rupandehi district, Nepal. Using a random sampling technique, 120 farm households within the wheat zone area of the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project (PMAMP) were selected. Primary data was collected through household surveys using a semi-structured interview schedule. In addition, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were also conducted with selected individuals. Descriptive statistics and an ordered Probit model were employed to analyze the data using STATA 17. The results revealed that both institutional and resource-related factors significantly influenced the adoption intensity of farm machinery. Specifically, membership in agricultural cooperatives, farm size, and access to government subsidies through PMAMP positively and significantly affected adoption intensity. These findings suggest that strengthening cooperative institutions, promoting land consolidation or collective use models such as group farming, and maintaining targeted subsidy programs are vital for accelerating the adoption of farm machinery in wheat production. Furthermore, mechanization policy should adopt a holistic approach that integrates institutional support, land-use planning, and financial incentives to facilitate sustainable agricultural mechanization.
Rice is a major crop in eastern Nepal but the huge yield gaps were recorded and nutrient management ranked the major reasons behind it. A field experiment was carried out in Nepal Polytechnic Institute, in eastern Nepal during the spring of 2023 to evaluate the effect of different nutrient management practices on growth and yield of spring rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Hardinath-1). Altogether six treatments: T1: Farmers' practice (150:50:25 NPK kg/ha), T2: Phosphorus only (50 kg/ha), T3: Nitrogen only (150 kg/ha), T4: Potassium only (40 kg/ha), T5: Government recommendation with FYM+NPK (15 t/ha FYM + 150:50:40 NPK kg/ha), and T6: NPK only (150:50:40 NPK kg/ha) were allocated in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. With regard to plant height (96.89 cm), number of tillers (463.57/m2), grains per panicle (170), and grain production (7.08 t/ha), the Government-recommended FYM + NPK treatment performed noticeably better result, whereas the Phosphorus-only treatment showed the lowest values. Hence, rice cultivation with integrated nutrient management i.e. government recommended FYM together with NPK (15 t/ha FYM + 150:50:40 NPK kg/ha), is a promising practice and has to be promoted in similar agro-ecological zones to maximize the rice productivity in Nepal.
There is growing recognition for young people as proactive communicators and agents of change within the agricultural communication ecosystem. The transformative role of youth in agricultural extension communication is examined in this study, with particular attention paid to how they might use digital technologies and participatory ways to close the gap between traditional agricultural practices and contemporary advances. The research accesses the present contributions of youths, obstacles to their active involvement, and successful strategies to increase their engagement through a thorough literature analysis. The results highlight how youth-led communication promotes inclusivity and sustainability in agricultural extension programs while also hastening the adoption of innovations. In order to meet the problems of contemporary agriculture, young people may transform the agricultural extension landscape by acting as innovators, educators, and advocates by utilizing their adaptability and technological know-how. To empower youths as communicators in agricultural extension systems, the report ends by suggesting specific strategies as such integrating ICT, providing specialized training, and encouraging policy advocacy.
The Muktakamaiya, an indigenous Tharu group of former bonded workers liberated in 2000 A.D., were given only small landholdings (2-5 kattha) by the Nepalese government. However, household with similar landholdings have uneven income levels. Some households are able to secure livelihood from farm production, whereas some others are able to secure it. This study aimed to assess the farmland use efficiency of the Muktakamaiya households in Gauriganga Municipality, Kailali District. A total of 87 households were sampled through simple random sampling and analyzed using SPSS software. The result showed that only 57% of Muktakamaiya farmers were able to generate income from their agricultural land, with an average gross income of NRs. 1625 per unit kattha land, ranging from NRs. 45 to 12487. A binary logistic regression analysis suggested that agricultural-related training support and the number of modern technologies to their farm had significant impacts on farmland use efficiency. Especially, the farmers with agricultural training and technological support used their land three (3) and seven (7) times more efficiently than those without. The findings underscored the use of proper technologies and addressing challenges support enhancing agricultural productivity. Expanding access to agricultural training programs and subsidies for modern agricultural technologies is recommended to enhance farmland use efficiency and ensure sustainable livelihood for the Muktakamiya farmers.
Seed priming is an effective pre-sowing technique to enhance germination, early growth, and stress tolerance in legumes. A field experiment was conducted at the College of Natural Resources Management, Bardibas, Nepal, from December 2023 to April 2024 for evaluating the effects of ten seed priming agents on kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Seeds were primed for 12 hours in tap water, untreated control, potassium nitrate (2%), titanium dioxide (2%), cow urine (10%), gibberellic acid (10 ppm), sucrose (10%), calcium oxide (0.1%), glycerol (10%), and magnesium sulphate (0.2%) and sown in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Significant differences were observed among treatments for germination, plant height, secondary branching, days to 50% flowering, and field survival by using R-Studio. Titanium dioxide (2%) achieved the highest germination (99.38%), calcium oxide (0.1%) produced maximum plant height (11.18 cm), earliest flowering (35 days), and the highest survival (37 plants plot⁻¹), while gibberellic acid (10 ppm) enhanced secondary branching (5 branches plant⁻¹). These results indicate that calcium oxide and titanium dioxide are most effective for improving early growth and stress tolerance, and gibberellic acid promotes branching. However, the study did not assess the effects of these priming agents on final yield, nutrient content, or long-term stress resilience, highlighting the need for multi-season and multi-location trials to evaluate their impact on productivity and crop performance under varying environmental conditions.
Soil-borne diseases are a serious threat to vegetable crops. This study aimed to investigate farmers' perception regarding soil-borne diseases of vegetables and their management practices in Shivalaya Rural Municipality, Jajarkot. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 60 vegetable-growing farmers to collect data. The study found that 91.7% of respondent farmers encountered plant diseases in their fields; however, only 73.3% were acquainted with soil-borne diseases. Respondents indicated damping-off as the most important soil-borne disease (index value: 0.90) based on a ranking study, followed by wilt (0.78) and root and collar rot (0.59). Among the respondents, 63.3% practiced non-chemical methods, and of these, 97.9% applied bio-pesticides prepared by themselves, while the rest used commercially manufactured Trichoderma. A total of 71.7% of farmers had received support from governmental and non-governmental organizations; however, most were highly unsatisfied with the support received. The majority of farmers (78.3%) indicated the influence of climate change on soil-borne diseases, based on their perception of increased frequency and severity in recent years. Besides, the majority of the respondents also perceived that the incidence of soil-borne diseases was affected by season as well as the type of crops. Barriers to effective disease management included a lack of knowledge, costlier inputs, and limited resource availability. The study highlights the importance of accessible extension services, awareness programs, and policy support for capacity building to manage soil-borne diseases. By considering farmers' perceptions, this study provides valuable information for developing effective disease management strategies, enhancing agricultural sustainability and productivity.
Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) offers strategies to enhance productivity, resilience, environmental sustainability, and livelihoods in diverse agro-ecological contexts. This review synthesizes evidence from purposively selected case studies, including peer-reviewed research and institutional reports from FAO, the World Bank, CIAT, and CGIAR partners, to examine CSA adoption, practices, and outcomes. Seven CSA domains—water, energy, nutrient, carbon, weather, knowledge, and planting—were analyzed, with associated technologies and interventions evaluated for their impact on productivity, food security, environmental health, income, and climate resilience. Regional patterns of adoption varied: water-smart interventions dominated in Africa, energy-smart and renewable solutions were prominent in Latin America, and diversification and irrigation efficiency prevailed in Asia. Water-smart practices demonstrated strong gains in productivity and resilience, while energy-, nutrient-, and carbon-smart interventions primarily improved environmental sustainability. Knowledge- and weather-smart strategies significantly enhanced food security and income, and planting-smart approaches supported climate-adapted cropping. Despite progress, CSA adoption remains concentrated on a limited set of crops and technologies, highlighting opportunities for innovation, diversification, and scaling, particularly in livestock and aquaculture systems. The review underscores the potential of CSA to transform agricultural systems toward sustainability and climate resilience and provides evidence-based insights for policy and practice.
Snails serve as intermediate hosts for numerous parasitic diseases of humans and animals. This study examined the morphometry-based identification for ten snail species from terrestrial and aquatic habitats in Chitwan, Nepal. In total, 120 snails were identified based on regional taxonomic keys. Morphometric analysis showed interspecific variation in shell dimensions among the studied snails. Lissachatina fulica exhibited the largest size with an ovo-conical shell (61.33 ± 2.96 mm height; 31.58 ± 3.59 mm width), while Indoplanorbis exustus represented the smallest species (12.33 ± 1.93 mm height; 5.38 ± 0.68 mm width). Ovate lymnaea showed moderate size (18.45 ± 1.48 mm height; 8.95 ± 2.99 mm width), whereas Bellamya dissimilis had a larger conical form (26.67 ± 1.69 mm × 20.25 ± 1.21 mm). Discoidal Macrochlamys indica and elongate-conical species (Brotia costula, Thiara scabra, Melanoides tuberculata) exhibited distinct height-to-width ratios, reflecting habitat-specific adaptations. Globose taxa such as Pila globosa (29.50 ± 11.30 mm × 26.83 ± 9.97 mm) and Cyclophorus sp. (24.25 ± 1.64 mm × 30.17 ± 1.86 mm) showed broader shells relative to height. Aperture dimensions were widest in L. fulica (34.58 ± 2.93 mm × 20.42 ± 0.36 mm) and the narrowest in T. scabra (4.92 ± 0.95 mm × 2.38 ± 0.36 mm). These morphometric variations not only reflect ecological adaptations, but also highlight the epidemiological importance of snails as intermediate hosts of human and animal health significant parasites, such as Schistosoma, Fasciola, and Angiostrongylus species.
Crop residues are valuable natural resources in the paddy-wheat cropping system, and their proper management can enhance the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. Burning of crop residues is one of the major problems associated with paddy-wheat cropping system in western Terai of Nepal. In order to evaluate the different crop residue management practices and their effects on crop yield and soil organic matter under the paddy-wheat cropping system, a field experiment was conducted at the National Wheat Research Program, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Nepal between 2019 to 2021. The experiment was conducted in the split-plot design with three main-plot treatments of residue management (residue removal, residue incorporation, and residue burning) and three sub-plot fertilizer levels (control, recommended dose of NPK, and 125% of the recommended doses of NPK), replicated three times. The combined analysis of data over three years revealed that the residue management had significantly influenced the grain yield. The highest grain yield (3648 kg ha-1) was recorded from the residue incorporation. Similarly, fertilizer levels significantly affected both the yield and yield components of paddy, with the highest mean grain yield (4173 kg ha-1) obtained from the 125% NPK of the recommended dose. Although residue management and fertilizer levels did not significantly influence overall soil fertility status, residue management had a significant effect on soil organic matter content. The highest organic matter content (2.23%) was observed in the residue incorporation, while the lowest (1.85%) was recorded from the residue burning. The interaction between residue management and fertilizer level had no significant effect on grain yield or soil fertility status.
This experiment evaluated the effects of partially replacing soybean meal (SM) with mustard meal (MM) at varying crude protein (CP) levels on the growth performance, egg production, and economic viability of Japanese quail. A 3 x 3 factorial experiment in a Completely Randomized Design employed nine dietary treatments were used. These comprised three CP levels (20%, 22%, and 24%) and three protein source combinations: SM only, 3% SM replaced by MM, and 5% SM replaced by MM. A total of 450 birds were distributed across five replicates per treatment. Over a 65-day period, data on feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), age at first egg, egg number, and egg weight were collected and analyzed using ANOVA in R Studio, with benefit-cost (B:C) ratio calculated for economic assessment. Results indicated that dietary CP level significantly influenced performance, with 24% CP promoting the best weight gain and FCR during their growth. Protein source also had a significant effect; 3% MM inclusion (replacing SM) consistently resulted in higher weight gain and egg production compared to SM-only or 5% MM diets. The interaction was significant for key laying parameters: birds fed a 24% CP diet with 3% MM inclusion (CQ) exhibited the earliest sexual maturity (36.67 days), the highest egg production (22.33 eggs/bird), and the optimal B:C ratio (1.91). It is concluded that soybean meal can be partially replaced with 3% mustard meal in a 24% CP diet without compromising the growth performance. This formulation enhances egg production, improves feed efficiency, and maximizes economic returns, providing a cost-effective alternative for quail production in Nepal.
Genetic diversity is important for effective selection and genetic improvement in breeding programs. A study was conducted at Rampur, Chitwan, to study genetic parameters and the association between yield and yield-attributing traits. Thirty-six wheat genotypes were evaluated in an alpha lattice design with two replications. Effective tillers showed the highest genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) (25.87%) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (27.61%). The difference between PCV and GCV was minimal for the studied traits. Grain yield recorded the highest broad-sense heritability (95%). Grain yield was positively correlated with harvest index, flag leaf area, plant height, and biological yield at both the genotypic and phenotypic levels (p < 0.05). Future breeding programs should prioritize these traits to improve wheat yield potential.
This study investigated the effects of different levels of dietary Moringa oleifera leaf meal on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of broiler chicken. A total of 144 birds were allocated into four dietary treatment groups, each with three replications of 12 birds. The treatments were: a control diet with no Moringa oleifera (T1) and diets supplemented with 0.5% Moringa oleifera (T2); 1% (T3) and 1.5% (T4) Moringa oleifera leaf meal. The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The highest body weight was observed in T3 group (1% supplementation). While the yields of neck, wings, breast, back and overall dressing percentage showed no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) among treatments, thigh yield was significantly higher (p<0.05) in supplemented groups. Analysis of breast meat revealed significant differences (p<0.05) in moisture and fat content and protein percentage was not significantly affected (p>0.05). The dressing percentage and total offal were comparable between the 0.5 and 1% supplementation group. Similarly, the calcium and phosphorus content of breast meat were identical for 0.5 and 1% treatment. Therefore, it is recommended to add Moringa oleifera at 0.5 – 1% in broiler diets to improve performance, carcass quality and meat quality of broiler chicken.
Crop residue burning is widely practiced in terai region of Nepal as it is cheap, easy, and convenient method for managing post-harvest crop remnants. Although burning practice is commonly perceived to rapidly improve soil fertility, its immediate effects on soil properties remain poorly understood. This study examined the short-term effects of wheat residue burning on key physico-chemical soil properties across three sites viz: Phasera, Jamauli and Salauli of Khairahani Municipality, Chitwan, Nepal. A total of 180 soil samples (30 pre-burn and 30 post burn) from each site were collected during the time of wheat harvest at the depth of 0-15 cm. A paired t-test compared pre- and post-burn conditions for bulk density, particle density, pH, organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Results revealed site-specific response to burning. Bulk density remains unaffected across the sites while pH (5.62±0.56 to 6.01±0.73; p < 0.01) increased significantly at Phasera. Similarly, OM and TN showed limited changes except at Salauli, available P declined markedly at Jamauli (142.67±79.88 mg kg-1 to 91.88±81.91 mg kg-1; p<0.01) while available K increased significantly across all the sites. The findings demonstrate that residue burning induces complex, nutrient-specific shifts, with short-term benefits of pH increment and K release, however it increases the risk of P loss and inconsistent OM response. Therefore, further investigation of the long-term impacts of residue burning on soil health is essential, considering post burning sampling time, burning intensity, and residue volume.
Labor migration and remittances play a pivotal role in shaping the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Nepal. The study examines how structural, economic and social factors influence migration decision and how remittance contribute to household welfare. A mixed-methods design was employed, drawing on survey data from 100 households-50 with at least one family member migrating and 50 without- supplemented by focus group discussion and key informant interviews. Binary logistic regression model was used to identify determinants of migration, while independent-sample t-tests and Chi-square test compared the outcomes between households. Findings indicated that migration decision is driven by both push factors, such as indebtedness and financial obligations and pull factors, such as perceived higher income abroad. Larger landholdings decrease the likelihood of migration (β = −0.208, p = 0.030), whereas outstanding loans (β = 2.837, p = 0.002) and solo financial responsibility (β = 2.354, p = 0.002) significantly increased migration likelihood. A positive perception for abroad opportunities is also raised the odds of migration ((β = 1.522, p = 0.049). Moreover, migrant households demonstrating significantly higher annual incomes and spent more on quality food, education, healthcare, sanitation and productive assets- demonstrating the transformative potential of remittance in strengthening physical, human and financial capital. These findings underscore migration for abroad employment as both a coping strategy in response to economic stress and as an aspirational pathway for resource accumulation and human capital development. Nevertheless, migration often appears as a necessity driven by economic pressure rather than long-term planned livelihood strategy.
Agroforestry plays an important role in supporting rural livelihoods and enhancing environmental resilience in Nepalese hill farming systems. This study assessed the socio-economic and environmental performance of major agroforestry systems in Kalinchowk Rural Municipality, Dolakha District, Nepal, with particular emphasis on household livelihood status, food sufficiency, and climate adaptation. The study was based on a household survey of 136 households selected through simple random sampling, complemented by key informant interviews, field observations, and meteorological data obtained from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. Socio-economic indicators included landholding, livelihood strategies, livestock ownership, household assets, and food sufficiency, while environmental parameters focused on perceived climatic changes, local environmental conditions, and agroforestry-related ecosystem services. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests in SPSS and MS Excel. The results show that agriculture remains the primary occupation for 69.85% of households, yet food sufficiency is low, with only 27.9% of households meeting annual food requirements from own production and 25.7% producing food for less than six months. Based on a composite livelihood assessment, most households fell into low (50.0%) and medium (19.9%) livelihood categories. The dominant agroforestry systems dominated in the study area were agri-silviculture (66.18%), agri-horti-silviculture (18.38%), silvi-pastoral systems (10.29%), and home gardens. A statistically significant association was observed between agroforestry system type and household food sufficiency (χ² = 24.16, p < 0.05), indicating better socio-economic performance and higher resilience among households practicing diversified systems, particularly agri-horti-silviculture and silvi-pastoral systems. Environmentally, 57.4% of households reported overall improvement in local environmental conditions, particularly in soil fertility and microclimate regulation. Despite these benefits, the performance of agroforestry systems is constrained by pest infestations, human–wildlife conflict, limited market access, and uneven institutional support, indicating the need for targeted technical extension, improved market linkages, inclusive support mechanisms, and the integration of agroforestry into local climate adaptation planning. Overall, the study indicates that agroforestry, especially agri-horti-silviculture offers balanced socio-economic and environmental benefits and represents a viable climate-smart land-use option for improving livelihood resilience and environmental sustainability in mid-hill and high-hill regions of Nepal.
Loss in post-harvest quality and shorter shelf-life of turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizomes in Nepal are substantial due to a lack of proper storage practices, affecting both marketable rhizome and seed rhizome quality. To find an appropriate solution of this problem, the research was conducted using seven different storage materials- T1: Straw + sand + sawdust, T2: Sand + sawdust, T3: Straw + sawdust, T4: Sand, T5: Sawdust, T6: Straw, and T7: Control- over 84 days in the Eastern Terai region of Nepal. This research was conducted in a single-factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated thrice. Observations for physiological weight loss, sprouting, sprout length, insect incidence, rotting, and shrinkage percentage were recorded at 14-day intervals during the research. Results revealed that all storage materials significantly reduced post-harvest losses compared to the control (without storage material), with straw consistently outperforming all other treatments. Use of straw-based storage material significantly minimized physiological weight loss (19.6%), caused the shortest sprout length (1.31 cm), reduced shrinkage percentage (6.6%), minimal insect incidence (0.4%) and rotting (0.7%). This might be likely due to its insulating properties, moisture retention and ability to create a microenvironment which is unfavorable for pests and pathogens and favorable for moisture retention. A combination of straw with sand or sawdust also resulted in better results than the control, but straw alone consistently outperformed. These findings highlight straw as a locally available, environmentally friendly and cost-effective storage material is offering a practical and scientific strategy to enhance the shelf-life and postharvest quality of turmeric rhizome.
The growing season of African Marigold coincides with the monsoon season bringing down the quality and post-harvest life of flowers. This study evaluated nine African Marigold Genotypes-Karma‑111 Orange, Mayan Orange, Oriental Orange, Karma‑444 Orange, Karma‑555 Orange, Calcuttia Orange, Sonata, Karma‑888 Orange, and Thai—under both open field and rain shelter conditions at the Floriculture Development Centre, Godawari, using a two‑factor factorial RCBD with three replications. Vegetative, floral, yield, and post‑harvest attributes were measured. Under rain shelters, Karma‑555 Orange produced the tallest plants (126.41 cm) and the most flowers per plant (282.25), while Karma‑111 had the thickest stems (22.84 cm). Calcuttia Orange under shelter showed the widest canopy (99.04 cm) and the longest garland post‑harvest life (8.22 days). In open field, Sonata flowered the earliest (28.08 days to bud, 53.83 days to flower) and achieved the highest yield per plant (5991.6 g), and Karma‑444 produced the largest florets (105.74 cm) with the heaviest fresh flowers (37.69 g). No significant genotype × environment interaction was observed for stem diameter, number of flowers per garland, or garland fresh weight. Rain shelters generally improved plant height (87.80 cm) and flower count (196.6 per plant). Calcuttia Orange had the longest post-harvest life while Karma-111 had the shortest and Garlands from rain shelter-grown flowers lasted longer than open field. Considering flower quality, yield, and storage life, Karma‑555 and Calcuttia Orange under shelter are recommended; Sonata and Mayan Orange suit open‑field conditions due to their early flowering and high yield.
The study on monitoring of Asian citrus psylla (Diaphorina citri) population at different altitude of Bhojpur district was carried out in the elevation of 733 meter above sea level (masl) to 1473 masl. A total of nine sites were monitored using yellow sticky trap glued with acetic acid from 14th March, 2024 to 3rd July, 2024. The spatial and temporal variations in citrus psylla population was detected at Shadananda-8, Semeng (733 and 855 masl), Bhojpur-4, Badahare tol (1298 masl) and Bhojpur-5, Damsing (1473 masl). Psyllid population was not found on yellow sticky trap at Shadananda-2, Tallo tabu (952 masl), Shadananda-11, Jhaupokhari (1081 masl), Shadananda-10 (1200 masl), Bhojpur-3, Gupteswor and Dawa bichbazar (1320 and 1556 masl). High psyllid population was detected in the month of April and May in low altitude area (<1000 masl), where temperature was from 27.6 - 29.5℃. Similarly, in high altitude sites (>1000 masl) the psyllid population was the highest in the month of June, where temperature was from 26.3 - 28.7℃. The results from the findings can be helpful to launch the management strategies for the control of citrus psylla in different altitude of Bhojpur district and similar agro-climatic zones in eastern Nepal.
Boer breed of goat is renowned for its excellence in meat production, robust body structure, rapid growth and superior carcass quality. A sample of 898 Boer goats from 5 different blood groups were taken from 15, 17 and 19 wards of Bharatpur Metroposis in Chitwan district of Nepal in order to perform comparative analysis among different genetic groups of Boer goats on their productive performance. The collected data were analyzed by using Microsoft Office Excel 2013 and RStudio. Results revealed that the 87.5% Boer goats consistently had exhibited superior growth performances of across multiple parameters indicating a robust genetic foundation inherited from the Boer breed. This was evidence by its highest average litter weight at birth (4.74 ± 0.08), litter weight at weaning (23.40 ± 0.72) and its massive body confirmation in terms of length (L), heart girth (G) and wither height (H). In contrast, bloodlines with lower percentages of Boer genetics such as 37.5% and 50% Boer goats had shown comparatively lower growth performances but showed potential adaptability to extensive grazing conditions. Therefore, these findings suggest systematic cross breeding program that may better focus on specific production targets according to suitable production system and breed in favorable season showing highest genetic performance which could improve the efficiency and sustainability of goat production in similar regions of Nepal.
The insufficient supply of good quality feed in developing countries is the main limiting factor of livestock production, which accounts for approximately 70% of the investment in feed. Owing to the high cost of feed, farmers in Bhutan are unable to provide good quality feed to livestock; as a result, animals do not perform as needed. Some farmer heifers reach their body weight only at three years of age, which is supposed to reach 55 % of mature body weight 1t 13-15 month of age. Therefore, it is necessary to find good alternatives to locally available feed resources to address this gap and reduce investment in heifer production. This study was conducted at Dorokha, where 18 calves were fed noodle waste for 12 weeks to evaluate the growth performance of the calves. The Experimental animals were assigned to three groups T1 (normal diet plus 0.5 kg of noodle per calf per day), T2 (normal diet plus 1 kg of noodle per calf per day) and C (maintain only on a normal diet), through stratified random selection method with a completely randomized design (CRD). ANOVA was conducted to examine weight gain among the treatment groups (C, T1 and T2) and significant differences in weight gain were detected, F (2, 1) = 28.247, P<.05. In contrast the weight gain in the T1and T2 treatments was significantly greater than that in the control (C), t (213) =8.579, p<.05. The ADG of the control was 0.160 kg, that of T1 was 0.39 kg, and that of T2 was 0.43kg. Independent t test revealed that the average weight gain of the Yangku and Yangkum breeds was significantly greater than that of the Siri breed in yearling calves.
