Effects of Concentrate and Bypass Fat Supplementations on Growth Performance, Blood Profile, and Rearing Cost of Feedlot Buffaloes

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of supplementation of the basal diet with concentrate and rumen bypass fat on the dry matter intake (DMI), growth performance, blood metabolites and hormonal changes, and the feeding cost of feedlot water buffaloes. Thirty-six healthy, three- to four-month-old male Murrah crossbred (n = 18) and Swamp (n = 18) buffaloes with a similar average initial body weight of 98.64 ± 1.93 kg were each randomly allocated into three dietary experimental groups. Buffaloes were fed with Diet A, which consisted of 100% Brachiaria decumbens, Diet B, consisting of 70% Brachiaria decumbens and 30% concentrate, and Diet C, consisting of 70% Brachiaria decumbens, 26% concentrate, and 4% rumen bypass fat for a period of 730 days. Feed intake was measured daily, while blood samples were collected for every eight months. Furthermore, body scores were noted prior to and at the end of the experimental period. The results showed that the average daily gain for buffaloes fed with Diet C was the highest. The DMI, BCS, FI, and FCR for the three groups showed significant (p < 0.05) differences, in the following order: Diet C > Diet B > Diet A. At the end of the two-year feeding trial, buffaloes fed with Diet B had significantly (p < 0.05) higher cholesterol levels than Diet A and Diet C. In addition, buffaloes fed with Diet C had significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of serum total protein, growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factor-I hormone compared to Diet A and Diet B. On the other hand, buffaloes fed with Diet B and Diet C showed significant (p < 0.05) decrease in glucose levels. Supplemented diet improved the buffalos’ weight gain to achieve the market weight in a shorter period of time, thus, giving farmers a greater return. In conclusion, concentrate and bypass fat supplementations in the diet of water buffaloes improved the growth performance without adverse effect on the blood metabolites, which enabled better farmer profitability.

Effects of Bypass Fat on Buffalo Carcass Characteristics, Meat Nutrient Contents and Profitability

“…Two total mixed rations (TMR) were prepared to contain three ingredients; namely, Brachiaria decumbens grass (G), commercial concentrate (C) (composition: corn grain (25.0%), palm kernel cake (32.0%), rice bran (18.0%), soya bean meal (19.7%), calcium carbonate (1.0%), molasses (2.8%), vitamin–mineral premix (0.3%), sodium chloride (0.6%), dicalcium phosphate (0.6%)) and bypass fat (B) (OPTI-FAT F8016RXP—rumen bypass supplement sources from calcium salt fractionated palm fat without trans-fat). All diets were formulated similar to the previous study by Mohd Azmi et al [ 13 ] in order to meet the nutritional requirements of growing buffalo [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. The fresh Brachiaria decumbens grass (basal diet) was collected from the pastureland area of the farm at Telupid Buffalo Breeding and Research Centre, Sabah, Malaysia.…”

“…The concentrate and bypass fat supplements were obtained from the authorized supplier, Lipidchem Sdn Bhd, Masai, Johor, Malaysia. Buffaloes of Group A were fed with Diet A, which consisted of 70% Brachiaria decumbens grass and 30% concentrate (Control) (DM: 90.31%, ash: 5.69% DM, crude fiber (CF): 23.73% DM, ether extract (EE): 2.92% DM, crude protein (CP): 8.08% DM, neutral detergent fiber (NDF): 57.96% DM, acid detergent fiber (ADF): 28.70% DM, acid detergent lignin (ADL): 3.32% DM, non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC): 24.84% DM, gross energy (GE): 12.10 MJ/kg, hemicellulose: 29.25% DM and cellulose: 25.38% DM), which is the common practice of buffalo feeding by farmers [ 13 ]. Group B was fed with Diet B, which consisted of 70% Brachiaria decumbens grass supplemented with 26% concentrate and 4% bypass fat (Treatment) (DM: 91.60%, ash: 5.93% DM, CF: 21.65% DM, EE: 6.66% DM, CP: 6.56% DM, NDF: 49.63% DM, ADF: 26.65% DM, ADL: 2.96% DM, NFC: 20.81% DM, GE: 14.59 MJ/kg, hemicellulose: 22.98% DM and cellulose: 23.69% DM) [ 13 ].…”

“…At the time of the study, the values of the feed stuffs (MYR/kg) were MYR 0.23 (USD 0.06) for Brachiaria decumbens , MYR 1.11 (USD 0.27) for concentrate and MYR 3.82 (USD 0.94) for bypass fat. Previous study by Mohd Azmi et al [ 13 ] reported that the average feed intake of Murrah cross buffaloes fed with Diet A was 6.57 kg/day and, for Diet B, it was 7.41 kg/day, whereas, for swamp buffaloes fed with Diet A, it was 6.15 kg/day and, for Diet B, it was 6.37 kg/day. The information of feed intake was used to calculate the total cost of average daily dry matter intake (MYR/day/animal).…”

“…Crossbreeding of pure Murrah and swamp breeds is a common practice developed by buffalo farmers in Malaysia and other Asian countries, as the crossbreeding buffaloes were reported to inherit superior traits (e.g., growth, meat and milk production) possessed by their parents [ 9 , 13 , 14 ]. Indeed, the study by Mohd Azmi et al [ 13 ] showed that the crossbreeds had a greater growth performance with a significantly heavier body weight than swamp buffaloes from birth until 24 months old. Other than nutritional factors, heterosis might have an impact on the growth and performance of buffaloes, which reflects the total production and profit of a farm [ 13 , 15 ].…”

“…Indeed, the study by Mohd Azmi et al [ 13 ] showed that the crossbreeds had a greater growth performance with a significantly heavier body weight than swamp buffaloes from birth until 24 months old. Other than nutritional factors, heterosis might have an impact on the growth and performance of buffaloes, which reflects the total production and profit of a farm [ 13 , 15 ].…”