Perinatal Nutrition of the Calf and Its Consequences for Lifelong Productivity

Nutritional Requirements of Dairy Buffalo

Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is one of the most important livestock species populated largely in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Balanced and economical feeding of Buffalo is extremely important for optimum productivity. Lower production is mainly due to the scarcity of feeds and unbalanced feeding practices. Proper nutritional management is the key to a successful Buffalo reproduction and health program. Increasing milk production of cattle through increasing dietary energy level is recognized in enhancing lactation potential. Buffaloes are mainly fed on crop residues and local grasses and need to be supplemented with deficient minerals for proper production performance. However, various problems must be discussed, including determining nutritional needs for buffalo growth, nutritional maintenance of metabolic and reproductive abnormalities, and recognition and utilization of the buffalo gut environment. Improved dairy buffalo nutrition in developing countries would involve extensive organized research and extension measures.

Influence of metabolizable energy and protein levels on age and weight at puberty in male buffalo

The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of different levels of metabolizable protein (MP) and metabolizable energy (ME) on nutrients utilization, growth performance, age and weight at puberty of Murrah male buffalo calves. Sixteen growing male buffalo calves weighing around 310±15 kg were divided into four groups of 4 animals each. The animals were offered four different total mixed rations containing different ME and MP levels, viz. 100,100; 115,100; 100,115; 115,115% as per ICAR (2013) standard in groups T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The animals were fed individually ad lib. from around 13 months of age to age at puberty and at the 18 months a metabolic trial was conducted. Dry matter intake in calves fed all the treatment diets remained similar. Feed conversion ratio (FCR), crude protein conversion ratio (CPCR) and metabolisable energy conversion ratio (MECR), live weight gain were also similar among the groups. Nutrient intake, digestibility and N balance were similar in all the groups. Age at puberty was comparatively lower (around 20 months) in T4 than other groups (20– 24 months), while body weight at that time was similar in all the groups. In conclusion, there were no significant improvement in body weight, ADG, nitrogen balance, age and weight at puberty in male buffalo calves with 15% increase in MP and ME in diet.

The Impact of Feed Supplementations on Asian Buffaloes: A Review

Simple Summary

Apart from feeding with forages, dietary supplementation with concentrate and rumen bypass fat is one of the feeding strategies to enhance nutrient availability and improve buffalo performance and productivity. This review paper thoroughly discussed the utilization of concentrate and bypass fat as dietary supplementation in buffalo feeding, and discussed the effects on performance, fermentation characteristics and general health of buffaloes to give better insight about the potential and challenges of dietary supplementation in buffalo diet. Based on the literature studies, it can be summarized that supplementation of concentrate and bypass fat in buffaloes may overcome the nutritional problems and improve the growth performance, health status, rumen environment and carcass traits.

Abstract

With the increase in the global buffalo herd, the use of supplementation in the ruminant feeding has become an important area for many researchers who are looking for an isocaloric and isonitrogenous diet to improve production parameters. In order to improve the performance of the Asian water buffalo, the optimal balance of all nutrients, including energy and protein, are important as macronutrients. Dietary supplementation is one of the alternatives to enhance the essential nutrient content in the buffalo diet and to improve the rumen metabolism of the animal. Researchers have found that supplementation of concentrate and rumen bypass fat could change growth performance and carcass traits without causing any adverse effects on the buffalo growth. Some studies showed that dry matter intake, body condition score and some blood parameters and hormones related to growth responded positively to concentrate and rumen bypass fat supplementation. In addition, changes of feeding management by adding the supplement to the ruminant basal diet helped to increase the profit of the local farmers due to the increased performance and productivity of the animals. Nevertheless, the effects of dietary supplementation on the performance of ruminants are inconsistent. Thus, its long-term effects on the health and productivity of buffaloes still need to be further investigated.