Effect of Rumen Protected Fat Supplementation on Nutrient Utilization and Production Performance of Lactating Buffaloes

The study was conducted to assess the effect of dietary supplementation of rumen protected fat on nutrient utilization and productive performance of lactating Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Fifteen multiparous buffaloes (2–4 lactation) in early-mid lactation (avg. milk yield, 6.09±0.39 kg; BW, 558.58±16.88 kg) were divided in three homogenous groups T₁ (control), T₂ and T₃ of five each. All the experimental animals were fed individually under conventional feeding system having basal diet containing concentrate mixture and roughage (40:60) for 90 days. Roughage consisted of green fodder (sorghum) and wheat straw at the ratio of about 70:30. The animals in group T₂ and T₃ were fed same ration as T₁ but additionally supplemented with 0.7% (100 g/day) and 1.4% (200 g/day) protected fat (on DMI basis), respectively. A digestibility trial was conducted at the end of the lactation trial. Results indicated that the nutrient digestibilities were similar among different treatments. The feed intake and milk yield were not influenced (P>0.05) by supplemental protected fat. However, fat corrected milk (6.5% FCM) yield was higher (P<0.05) in T₃ (14.98±1.20 kg) than that of T₁ (8.72±1.49 kg) both, in turn, being similar to T₂ (10.38±1.86 kg). There was no influence of the dietary treatments on the milk composition except for milk protein which was higher (P<0.05) in T₃ than T₁. Feed efficiency (milk yield/kg DMI) was higher (P<0.05) in group T₃ than that of T₁ and T₂. It was concluded that supplementation of 1.4% rumen protected fat (on DMI basis) with roughage based diet has beneficial effect on augmenting FCM yield, milk quality and feed efficiency in lactating Murrah buffaloes.