Effect of formaldehyde treated sunflower meal as a source of rumen undegradable protein on the milk production of buffaloes

The rumen has unique ability to degrade dietary protein on the one hand and synthesize microbial protein on the other. However, rumen microorganism cannot synthesize enough protein to support high levels of growth and milk production by lactating animals. So there is need to protect some of dietary protein from ruminal degradation and be digested by enzymes in small intestine. Treatment with formaldehyde is an efficient and inexpensive method to protect the proteins from rumen degradation. Present study was planned to study the effect of HCHO treated sunflower meal on milk production performance of lactating buffaloes. Twelve lactating buffaloes were divided into 2 groups A and B based on the milk production (9.1) lactation no (II) and days after calving (38). Individual feeding practice was adopted to fulfill the requirement of each animal. Group A was fed control ration with untreated sunflower meal and Group B was fed experimental ration co ntaining the HCHO treated sunflower meal. About 45 kg of chopped green fodder was offered daily to each animal in both groups. Concentrate mixture was given to satisfy production requirement, Animals were kept under proper managemental conditions. Hand milking of the animals was done twice a day. An insitu trial was conducted to see the effectiveness of HCHO treatment against the ruminal degradation of sunflower meal used in the experimental rations. Present study was conducted to ascertain milk production of Nili Ravi buffaloes by undegradable intake protein of sunflower meal. lnsitu study showed that formaldehyde treatment significantly reduced the degradation of protein in the rumen. Average values for undegradable protein from 0.5% HCHO treated sunflower meal was 75.52 percent as compared to 14.22 percent value of control after 24 hours of incubation. Average daily milk production for group A and B was 8.66 plus minus 0.70 and 8.94 plus minus 0.55 kg respectively. The di f ference was statistically non-significant. Similarly a non- significant response of formaldehyde treated sunflower meal to milk fat percentage and fat corrected milk was observed. The average values for fat contents and FCM were 5.52% plus minus 0.12 for group A and 5.72% plus minus 0.23 for group B and 10.6 plus minus 0.76 kg for group A and 11.2 plus minus 0.50 kg for B group respectively. It was concluded that formaldehyde treatment of SFM effectively reduced the protein degradation in the rumen but treated sunflower meal could not improve the milk yield and fat content significantly when fed to lactating buffaloes.