Effect of Different Source of Energy on Urea Molasses Mineral Block Intake, Nutrient Utilization, Rumen Fermentation Pattern and Blood Profile in Murrah Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

In order to investigate the effect of different sources of energy on intake and nutrient utilization from urea molasses mineral block (UMMB), rumen fermentation pattern and blood biochemical constituents, 18 intact and 9 rumen fistulated male Murrah buffaloes aged about 3 years and average weight 310.8 kg were randomly allocated into three groups of 9 animals in each, thus each group having 6 intact and three rumen fistulated buffaloes. All animals were fed individually for 90 days. All buffaloes were offered wheat straw as basal roughage and urea molasses mineral block for free choice of licking. Three different energy sources viz., barley grain, (group I), maize grain (group II) and jowar green (group III) were offered to meet their nutrient requirement as per Kearl (1982). At the end of feeding trial, a metabolism trial of 7 days duration was carried out on intact animals to determine the digestibility of nutrients. Rumen fermentation studies were carried out on rumen fistulated animals. After the metabolism trial blood was collected from intact animals to estimate the nitrogen constituents in blood serum of animals fed on different sources of energy. Results revealed no significant difference in the intake of UMMB in three groups. Similarly, the intake of DM (kg), DCP (g) and TDN (kg) per day was similar in three groups statistically. The apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) was significantly (p<0.05) more in group II than group III, whereas the digestibility of DM, OM and NFE was similar in group I and II. The digestibility of crude fiber (CF) and all the fiber fractions i.e. NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose was alike in 3 groups. Nitrogen balance (g/d) was significantly (p<0.05) more in group III as compared to group I and II, which were alike statistically, though the N intake (g/d) was similar in 3 groups but N balance (g/d) was significantly (p<0.05) less in group III as compared to other 2 groups. Significantly (p<0.05) higher concentration of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), total nitrogen (TN) and its fractions were observed in group I and II as compared to group III. There was no effect on rumen pH, rumen volume and digesta flow rate due to different sources of energy in 3 groups. Similarly the blood serum biochemical parameters (NH3-N, urea-N and total protein) were statistically identical in 3 groups.