The present investigation was carried out to evaluate three potential complete rations made from locally available ingredients through in vitro digestibility (DM, CP, NDF and ADF) and in vitro total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) production. Three iso-nitrogenous complete rations comprising of maize stover (T1), red gram straw (T2) or black gram straw (T3) and concentrate in 60:40 ratio were prepared and the cost/kg diets were 5.2, 5.5 and 5.7 rupees/Kg diet, respectively. Three fistulated buffalo bulls (5 yrs, 350 ± 9.36 kg BW) used as donors of rumen inoculums were fed the same three complete rations (T1, T2 and T3) after proper adaptation. The three complete rations were iso-nitrogenous with CP content ranging from 12.62 to 12.82, while T3 contained higher EE (1.68 %) and TA (9.75 %) and higher NFE (34.38 %) in T1 than in other complete rations. However, variation was apparent in the fiber fractions of the three complete rations attributable to varying sources of the fibrous crop residues. Overall in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) and in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD) % was higher (p<0.05) in T1 (58.59 ± 1.55 and 56.33 ± 0.24) followed by T3 (57.75 ± 0.46 and 54.20 ± 0.64) and in T2 (55.45 ± 0.69 and 53.23 ± 1.25). However, the differences for in vitro CP digestibility (IVCPD) and in vitro ADF digestibility (IVADFD) % were higher in T1 than in other complete rations, the values did not differ statistically. Overall TVFA (meq/L) production was higher in T1 (87.65 ± 7.17) than in T2 (83.00 ± 5.74) and T3 (84.00 ± 5.52). It is concluded that T1 is superior to T2 or T3 in terms of in vitro digestibility (DM, CP, NDF and ADF), in vitro TVFA production and cost of formulation.

In vitro digestibility study was conducted to determine the effectsof supplementing fractionated Refined,Bleached and Deodorized Palm Stearin(RBDPST) on ruminal digestion. Fractionated RBDPST was soaked in incubation medium consisting of distilled water, buffer solution, trace element solution, micro and macro mineral solution, as well as rumen liquor that was collected from slaughtered cattle. This experiment was conducted at 39°C with an incubation period of 24 hours. Dried napier grass was used as control treatment. Gas producedwas recorded and collected to measure the methane gas produced. Methane gas produced from fractionated RBDPST was found to be relatively lower than control. This indicates that fractionated RBDPST had the ability to function as rumen bypass fat as it was not fully digested in the rumen.