The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of inclusion of palm kernel meal (PKM) in the diet on intake, mineral balances and nutrient utilization in buffalo bulls. In 4*4 LSD, four graded Murrah buffalo bulls were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments (T1 to T4) comprising of green fodder viz. Super Napier, paddy straw and concentrate mixture. In the concentrate mixture, palm kernel meal is incorporated at 0 (T1, Control), 10 (T2), 15 (T3) and 20 (T4) percent levels. All the concentrate mixtures were made iso-nitrogenous. Buffalo bulls in both the groups were fed to meet the nutrient requirements as per ICAR (2013) standards. Inclusion of PKM up to 20 percent level in the concentrate mixture had no effect (P GT 0.05) on the digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE, NDF, ADF, hemi-cellulose and cellulose as compared to the control. All the buffalo bulls were in positive N, Ca and P balance. The average DMI of buffalo bulls expressed as g/kg W0.75 or as percent BW was comparable among the treatments. Inclusion of PKM at varying levels in the concentrate mixture had no significant effect (P GT 0.05) on DCP contents expressed as percent in the diet consumed or as g/kg W0.75. However, the TDN contents expressed as percent in the diet consumed decreased (P LT 0.05) with increased levels of inclusion of PKM from 0 to 20 percent level in the concentrate mixtures. Inclusion of palm kernel meal at 10, 15 and 20 percent level in the concentrate mixtures resulted in decreased feed cost by rupee 0.73, 1.09 and 1.46 as compared to the control. It is concluded that PKM can be included up to 20 percent level in the concentrate mixture of buffalo bulls without any adverse effects.

This trial was conducted to check the effect of commercially available hydrolysable tannin (Silvafeed Bypro) on feed intake, protein digestibility, rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen in Nili Ravi buffalo bulls. Four cannulated buffalo bulls were alloted in 4*4 Latin Square Design. The diet consisted of 50% seasonal fodder and 50 percent concentrate. Four iso-caloric (ME: 2800 kcal/kg) and iso-nitrogenous (CP: 18 percent) concentrate rations T1, T2, T3 and T4 were formulated and supplemented with 0, 10, 20 and 30 g hydrolysable tannin respectively per animal on daily basis. Diets as a total mixed ration were given to the bulls ad libitum twice a day. The results showed that adding tannin in diet had unaltered effect (P GT 0.05) on feed intake, digestibility of crude protein, ruminal pH, ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen. However, slightly increased numerical values were found for feed intake, crude protein digestibility and ruminal pH while slightly decreased numerical values were found for ruminal ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen at different inclusion levels of hydrolysable tannin in diet. It is concluded that numerical values for feed intake, crude protein digestibility, ruminal pH, ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen are slightly better but non-significant than control when buffalo bull were fed diets supplemented with hydrolysable tannin.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of soluble carbohydrate and protein supplementation on feed digestibility and rumen characteristics of swamp buffaloes fed total mixed fiber (TMF) silage by using an in vitro technique. A completely randomized design with 3 treatments (soluble carbohydrate (SCH) and protein ratio) and 6 replicates was used. Treatments consisted of total mixed fiber silage rations with SCH: protein ratio of 300 g : 300 g (1 : 1) (A1), SCH : protein ratio of 600 g : 300 g (2 : 1) (A2), and SCH : protein ratio of 900 g : 300 g (3 : 1) (A3). Measurements were taken on nutrient digestibility rates (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and crude fiber), fiber digestibility rates (NDF, ADF, cellulose, and hemicellulose), and rumen fermentation condition (concentrations of RAN, total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and methane and pH). Results showed that significant effects (P LT 0.05) of treatments were found on nutrient digestibility rates (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fiber, ADF, cellulose, and hemicellulose), rumen fermentation conditions (concentrations of RAN, total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and CH4). Meanwhile, no effects (P GT 0.05) of treatments were found on NDF digestibility and pH levels. It was concluded that TMF silage ration supplemented with SCH and protein ratio of 3 : 1 (900 g : 300 g) gave the best results in terms of nutrient digestibility rates and rumen fermentation condition of swamp buffaloes.

The ability to utilize low-quality roughage of swamp buffalo has been reported, thus, rumen of swamp buffalo might be a suitable source for isolation of potent fibrolytic bacteria. A total of 165 gram-negative cocci fibrolytic bacteria were screened from rumen contents of 4 swamp buffalo. Six isolates were identified as Ruminococcus flavefaciens and phylogenetically grouped with type strain. Strain OS14 showed the highest fiber digestion alone or combination with non-fibrolytic bacteria and higher than type strain. DM digestibility of cellulose powder in co-culture of OS14 with all strains non-fibrolytic was increased. Moreover, co-culture of OS14 with S137 showed the highest fiber digestion and notably increased of acetate and propionate. These results indicated that possible cross-feeding between R. flavefaciens with non-fibrolytic bacteria could improve fiber digestion but the amount of improvement might be based on the combination of bacteria strains. The in vitro fermentation products and abundance in co-culture need to be quantified in further study.

This study is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of forage and balanced concentrate in diet or nutritional contents and nutrient digestibilities of feed, feed consumption, an average daily gain, and feed efficiency in buffaloes. This study used a completely randomized design with 4 replicates. The diet treatments were: (R1), 100 percent native grass, (R2), 70 percent native grass + 30 percent concentrate. (R3), 60 percent native grass + 40 percent concentrate (R4) 50 percent native grass + 50 percent concentrate. The experimental results showed that the amount of concentrates, significantly affected (P LT 0.05) the contents of dry matter, organic matter, and crude fiber. However, the crude protein, crude fats, digestibilityies of dry matter and organic matter of the contents were not significantly affected P LT 0.05). It could be concluded that the addition of concentrated ration to buffaloes provides better productivity than field grass, with the best treatment being the R2.