Impact of restricted followed by compensatory feeding on the performance of buffalo calves

The study was planned to assess the effect of restricted feeding followed by compensatory feeding on the performance of buffalo calves. After conditioning, buffalo calves (21; 10-month-old,100 kg BW) were divided into 2 groups (Gp-I and Gp-II) of 7 and 14 animals each on BW basis and were fed @100 and 75% of NRC for 75 days. The DM and N-intake, total and individual VFA production in rumen, blood glucose, T₃ and T₄, urinary total purine derivatives (PD) were lower (P<0.01), while protein, globulin and creatinine were higher (P<0.01) in Gp-II than Gp-I. The animals in the Gp-II lost (P<0.01) body weight. After 75 days of restricted feeding, the animals in the control Gp-I were continued with the same feeding schedule, but those under restricted feeding (Gp-II) were divided into 2 equal groups and were offered compensatory diet @100% (Gp-IIa) and 125% NRC (Gp-IIb) for next 75 days. The DM intake, digestibility of nutrients, and nitrogen retention were similar in all the groups. The production of total VFAs and acetate in the rumen was higher (P<0.05), but low (P<0.01) levels of propionate, butyrate and that of isobutyrate (P<0.05) were observed in Gp-II. The ruminal total-N, TCA-N and ammoniacal-N in Gp-IIa and Gp-IIb improved (P<0.01) in comparison to those in Gp-I. Blood glucose and serum IGF were higher (P<0.05) in Gp-IIb (125% NRC). The ADG in Gp-IIa and Gp-IIb showed a remarkable recovery and reached close to the ADG in animals under Gp-I. The study conclusively revealed that animals which were on restricted feeding could recoup from the negative effects, during re-alimentation phase.