Effect of feeding Moringa oleifera hay on performance, lactation, and nitrogen balance in lactating Nili Ravi buffaloes in semi-arid areas of South Asia

M. Imran et al., 'Effect of feeding Moringa oleifera hay on performance, lactation, and nitrogen balance in lactating Nili Ravi buffaloes in semi-arid areas of South Asia', Journal of Animal and Poultry Sciences, 2017

The present study was conducted in semi-arid areas to examine the effect of feeding Moringaoleiferahay (MOH) on intake, digestibility, milk yield and its composition in lactating Nili Ravi buffaloes. Eight buffaloes of Nili Ravi breed were selected from the dairy herd on the basis of nearly similar lactation stage and body weight in the experiment. In this trial, buffaloes were blocked by parity and randomly assigned within block to one of two tre atments for the duration of 17 weeks. An isonitrogenous and isocaloric concentrate was formulated and f ed as a part of ration to all buffaloes with same quantity. While in the remaining part of the ration, one group was offered ad libitum Medicago sativa hay (MSH) and other group was provided MOH, respectively. Animals were fed at the rate of3% of their body weight per day.Dry matter (DM) intake was higher in buffaloes fed MOH diet than in those fed MSH die t. Digestibility of DM, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and ether extrac t were significantl y higher in buffaloes fed MOH diet as compared to MSH diet. Milk yield and 4% fat corrected milk, solid corrected milk, milk protein, and solid not fat were higher in buffaloes fed MOH diet than in those fed MSH diet; however, milk fat percent, milk fat yield (kg/day), lactose, total solids, specific gravity and milk pH were not affected by the treatments. The findings of the present study indicate that feeding MOH as a part of the ration not only has inc reased nutrients intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance but also improved milk production in lactating Nili Ravi buffaloes in semi-arid areas