Effect of dietary supplementation of fibrolytic enzyme on the mean body weight gain, dry matter intake, nutrient, energy intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients in lactating upgraded buffaloes

Abstract

Eight upgraded buffaloes (371.40 ± 15.73 kg of body weight, 5.88 ± 0.22 milk yield, 67.38 ± 3.56 lactation length) in mid lactation were used in a switch over design. Three groups were made based on the milk production and stage of lactation. Buffaloes within each group were assigned to one of the three dietary treatments in each period. The total duration of the lactation trial was 12 weeks comprising three periods of four weeks each. The buffaloes in all the three groups received urea treated (@ 2 %) paddy straw (PS) as the sole roughage and compound feed mixture (CFM). Dietary treatment included as following: without enzyme mixture - control (T1), exogenous fibrinolytic enzyme supplemented in CFM @ 1.6 g/kg that was @ 15 % more than the control or normal level of xylanase enzyme activity in the rumen liquid (T2) and exogenous fibrinolytic enzyme supplemented in CFM @ 3.2 g/kg that was 30 % more than the control or normal level of xylanase enzyme activity in the rumen liquid (T3). The dry matter intake (DMI) was calculated as the difference between the DM offered and DM left over for the individual animal. Digestion trial was conducted by indicator method using ADF ash as an internal marker in a “grab collection” method. Representative samples of the feed offered and residues left were collected daily during the collection period for analysis of DM and nutrients. Statistical analysis revealed there was no significant difference in, mean body weight gain (g/d), daily dry matter intake (DMI) (kg/d), nutrient intake (kg/d), energy intake (MJ/d) and apparent digestibility of nutrients (%) in lactating buffaloes.