Replacement of Wheat Bran by Rice Polishings as an Economic Supplement to Wheat Straw Diet for Lactating Buffaloes in Northern Plains of India

Twenty-six non-descript lactating buffaloes from 21 farm families were equally divided into two groups. The lactating buffaloes were fed a basal diet of wheat straw ad libitum and supplemented with either wheat bran (WBC) or rice polish (RPC) supplement on iso-nitrogenous basis for 4 months duration. The amount of supplement was decided on the basis of milk yield. The dry-matter intake (% BW or g/kg W^0.75) of lactating buffaloes from straw or concentrate moiety did not differ significantly irrespective of dietary supplements. The digestibility coefficient of DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF, ADF were also comparable. Similarly, the nutrient composition and intake of composite diet in term of DCP, TDN and ME did not differ significantly. Milk yield and composition, monitored at fortnightly intervals, was found comparable irrespective of dietary supplement. The cost-benefit analysis of substitution effect of rice polish revealed that the cost of concentrate for lactating buffaloes could be reduced significantly if wheat bran is completely replaced by rice polish.