EFFECT OF SUGARCANE BY-PRODUCT BASED COMPLETE RATIONS ON NUTRIENT UTLIZATION AND MILK PRODUCTION IN MURRAH BUFFALOES*

Abstract

Seven rations (six complete rations were formulated by using sugarcane byproducts
and other crop residues and balanced concentrate mixture in the mash form
and one conventional ration comprised with hybrid Napier and concentrate mixture)
were prepared and fed to 28 Murrah buffaloes for a period of 180 days using
Randomized Block Design to study the effect of processing of complete diet on nutrient
utilization and milk production. The DMI (kg/100kgbody wt) was significantly (P<0.01)
higher in buffaloes fed on complete rations than on control. The DCP and TDN contents
were significantly (P<0.01) higher in complete rations, when compared to control ration.
The digestibility coefficients of proximate nutrients (P<0.01) and cell wall fractions
(P<0.05) were significantly higher in buffaloes fed with complete rations than those fed
on conventional diet. The milk yields of buffaloes were 11.60 1.60,11.90 1.05,12.25
0.59,11.85 0.65,12.05 0.44, 11.80 0.91 and 9.20 0.46 kg in buffaloes fed with CR-I,
II, III, IV, V, VI and control, respectively though insignificant. However, 6% FCM yields
were significantly (P<0.05) higher in buffaloes fed on complete rations when compared to
conventional diet. The cost per kg sugarcane by-product and other crop residue based
complete ration was ranged from Rs.2.73 to 3.41.The cost per kg complete ration was
lower by 10.24, 14.28 and 11.42 percentage units in CR-IV, V and VI rations,
respectively when compared to control ration (Rs.3.12).
Keywords: Sugarcane by-products, complete ration, milk production, Murrah buffaloes