Sixteen adult male buffaloes (average body weight 443±14 kg) were equally distributed into four groups in an experiment to study the effect of supplementary protein sources on energy utilization efficiency in buffaloes fed a wheat straw-based diet. The animals in the control group were offered a basal diet composed of 700 g deoiled ground nut cake and ad libitum wheat straw. Animals of other groups were offered 1.8 kg of soyabean meal (SBM), linseed meal (LSM) or mustard cake (MC) along with the basal diet. Protein supplementation increased the digestibility of DM (p<0.01), OM (p<0.01) CP (p<0.01) and CF (p<0.05). Maximum CP digestibility was observed on SBM, followed by LSM and MC when compared to the control. Total DMI and DOMI was significantly (p<0.01) higher in protein supplemented groups with no differences between treatment groups. Digestible crude protein (DCP) intake and N balance were significantly (p<0.01) different between the groups; maximum response was obtained with SBM supplementation, followed by LSM and MC. Faecal energy was significantly (p<0.01) lower in SBM and LSM groups in comparison to other groups. Methane production (% DEI) was significantly (p<0.05) lower on the SBM treatment. Metabolizable energy (ME) intake increased significantly due to protein supplementation. Metabolizable energy intake (MEI) of animals in the MC group was less than LSM and SBM. Energy balance was increased significantly (p<0.01) due to protein supplementation and within supplement variation was also significant with maximum balance in SBM followed by LSM and MC groups. Protein supplementation significantly (p<0.05) increased the digestibility and metabolizability of energy from whole ration. Metabolizable energy (ME) content (Mcal/kg DM) of SBM, LSM and MC was 4.49, 3.56 and 2.56, respectively. It was concluded that protein supplementation of wheat straw increased intake, digestibility and metabolizability of energy and maximum response could be obtained when soybean meal was used as a supplement.
A full lactation (300 days) experiment on 32 crossbred milch cows, separated into two groups was carried out. Group 1 (control) was given a concentrate mixture consisting of 400 g groundnut cake, 300 g crushed maize, 270 g wheat bran, 20 g mineral mixture and 10 g common salt per kg; while in group 2 (experimental) the groundnut cake was replaced by water-washed neem seed kernel cake (WWNSKC). Roughage was common in both the groups. Digestion and balance study on nine cows in group 1 and eight in group 2 was carried out after 3 months experimental feeding. Milk yield was recorded twice daily and butter fat, protein and total solids were determined every month in the milk of each animal. The results showed that there was no significant difference (P > 0·05) in the milk yield, butter fat content, organoleptic evaluation of milk, dry-matter intake, digestibility of nutrients, haemoglobin, SGOT, SGPT, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in blood and reproductive ability of the cows in the two groups. The nitrogen balance was higher in the WWNSKC group (P < 0·05) due mainly to less excretion of urinary nitrogen and a concomitent decrease in blood urea nitrogen. It is concluded that water washing of neem seed kernel cake, whose potential availability in India alone is about 0·9 Mt annually, can convert this cake, hitherto going waste, into an excellent high protein animal food and can be used for feeding milch animals without any adverse effect. It is recommended that this technology be adopted by all neem seed-cake producing countries, specially those developing countries having chronic shortage of foods and fodders for animal feeding.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder
The replacement value of undecorticated sunflower meal (SFM) in the diets of dairy animals was assessed on-station and on-farm. Eighteen primiparous crossbred (Bos taurus x Bos indicus) cows (350.4 +/- 8.84 kg), randomly allocated to three groups, were used in the on-station study. The animals were fed on either a conventional concentrate supplement (control) or on an experimental concentrate, in which SFM replaced 25% (SFM-25) or 50% (SFM-50) of the CP in the control supplement. Green oats (Avena sativa) were supplied ad libitum. A metabolism trial conducted following 60 days of experimental feeding revealed that the intakes of DM, DCP and TDN were similar among the groups. The digestibilities of OM, CP, EE, NDF and ADF were also without significant differences. All the groups were in positive nitrogen balance. Inclusion of SFM at either level had no effect on the intake, excretion or retention of nitrogen. The daily milk yield and its composition did not differ among the dietary treatments. Moreover, the efficiency of utilization of DOM and TDN for FCM production tended to reflect, although non-significantly, increasing levels of SFM inclusion. In the on-farm study, seven multiparous milking buffaloes belonging to six farmers were used to assess the effect of replacing 20% of the CP of the conventional supplement with SFM, in a predominantly crop residue-based diet. The study continued for 4 months and revealed that the average daily feed intake and milk production was similar in the control and SFM-fed groups. It was concluded that SFM can be effectively utilized as a cheaper replacement for costly oil cakes and wheat bran for economic milk production by smallholder farmers.
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