Effects of Manipulation of Forage and Concentrate in Diets of Murrah Buffalo on Production and Reproduction

Abstract

A study of six month duration was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary management on production and reproduction performance in lactating Murrah buffalo. Eighteen lactating Murrah buffaloes were assigned to three dietary treatment groups with six animals in each group based on parity. Control group (T1) was fed wheat straw, green fodder and concentrate mixture based diet in the ratio of 30:35:35 as per ICAR (2013) standards. Crude protein and total digestible nutrients contributed by green fodder of control group ration was
replaced with concentrate mixture at 30% and 40% level in group T2 and T3, respectively in an iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric manner. Dry matter intake, milk yield, 6% fat corrected milk yield, solid-not-fat and total solids were reported to be significantly (P<0.05) higher in groups T2 and T3 as compared to control (T1), but milk fat (%) and milk protein (%) remained unaffected among different groups. Peak milk yield was similar in T2 and T3 however, significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to T1. Although, the treatment groups T2 and T3 took significantly more number of days to attain peak milk yield but, the persistency period of peak milk yield were significantly (P<0.05) greater in T2 and T3 as compared to control. Efficiency of conversion of feed to milk was
significantly (P<0.05) improved in T2 and T3 treatment groups as compared to control. Compared to the control animals, number of days taken to post-partum estrous and number of services per conception was lesser in groups T2 and T3. Total costs of feeding per kg milk production were lower in groups T2 and T3 groups than control (T1). It was inferred that 30% replacement of crude protein and total digestible nutrients of green fodder with concentrate mixture increased the feed conversion efficiency of Murrah buffaloes thereby, improving their
production and reproduction performance resulting in more economical milk production.