Effect of fibrolytic enzyme supplementation and fiber content of total mixed ration on productive performance of lactating buffaloes

Thirty multiparous lactating buffaloes weighing 500 to 600 kg were fed three levels of fiber with or without fibrolytic enzyme (cellulase and xylanase) treated roughage. Rations were formulated from berseem hay, corn silages and rice straw, yellow corn grain, soybean meal, wheat bran, minerals, and vitamins. The contents of crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were 21.95, 49.48 and 32.21% (high), 19.50, 45.46 and 29.20% (medium) and 16.97, 41.14 and 26.01% (low) for rations contained 75, 62.5, and 50% roughage consisted of 40% berseem hay, 40% corn silage and 20% rice straw (on DM basis), respectively. The digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) and nutritive values decreased significantly (P less than 0.05), but crude fiber (CF) increased significantly (P less than 0.05) with increasing fiber content. The digestibility of all nutrients and nutritive values increased significantly (P less than 0.05) with fibrolytic enzyme supplementation. The intake of DM, total digestible nutrients (TDN), CP and digestible crude protein (DCP) increased significantly (P less than 0.05) with decreasing dietary fiber content as well as with fibrolytic enzyme supplementation. The pH value increased significantly (P less than 0.05), however total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations decreased significantly (P less than 0.05) with increasing dietary fiber content. The pH value and NH3-N concentration were significantly lower (P less than 0.05), but TVFAs concentration was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) with fibrolytic enzyme supplementation. The milk yield and 7% fat corrected milk (FCM) increased significantly (P less than 0.05) with decreasing dietary fiber content as well as with fibrolytic enzyme supplementation. Fat and TS contents increased and lactose and SNF contents decreased significantly (P less than 0.05) with increasing dietary fiber content. The contents of milk constituents increased significantly (P less than 0.05) with fibrolytic enzyme supplementation. The DM and CP per kg FCM increased significantly (P less than 0.05) with increasing dietary fiber content, but TDN, CP and DCP/kg FCM did not change significantly (P more than 0.05) by dietary fiber content. Feed conversion improved significantly (P less than 0.05) with fibrolytic enzyme supplementation. Average daily feed cost, feed cost per kg 7% FCM and output of 7% FCM decreased significantly (P less than 0.05), but economic efficiency increased significantly (P less than 0.05) with increasing dietary fiber content. Feed cost per kg 7% FCM decreased significantly (P less than 0.05), but output of 7% FCM and economic efficiency increased significantly (P less than 0.05) with fibrolytic enzyme supplementation. It could be concluded that using high fiber total mixed ration due to increasing forage level was economically effective in buffaloes feeding and fibrolytic enzymes supplementation improved productive performance.