Insights into nutrient digestibility, growth and rumen attributes in buffalo, crossbred and indigenous cattle fed a common diet
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v96i8.177751Keywords:
Buffalo, Crossbred, Methane, Nutrient digestibility, Real-time PCR, Rumen fermentationAbstract
The current study was undertaken to evaluate nutrient digestibility, growth, rumen fermentation, and microbial populations in buffaloes and crossbred and indigenous cattle on a similar plane of nutrition. Six animals in each group were taken and were fed roughage and concentrate in equal proportion (50:50) to meet the nutritional requirements. The daily DMI (kg/d), intakes of CP, NDF and ADF was significantly higher (P>0.05) for the buffaloes and crossbred cattle compared to indigenous cattle, while the digestibility of DM and other nutrients did not differ among the groups except for OM and ADF. Buffalo and crossbred cattle had higher net BW gain and ADG. However, FCR was similar among all groups. With respect to rumen fermentation, buffaloes and crossbreds presented with higher VFAs and NH3-N concentration. There was no difference in population density of major rumen microbes except for methanogens and total bacteria, which were significantly higher in crossbred cattle as analysed by real-time PCR. Overall, the study has shown that the nutrient utilization and rumen microbial density did not vary much; differences were found in growth performance and rumen fermentation among the three large bovines.
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