Effect of feeding different levels of cottonseed on the reproductive performance of surti buffaloes

Eighteen lactating Surti buffaloes in early stage of lactation were divided into three groups of six animals each on the basis of body weight (475.83±13.23 kg) and milk yield (6.75±0.32 kg) and were allotted to three dietary treatments viz. T₁ – zero per cent cottonseed in concentrate mixture, T₂ – 30 per cent cottonseed in concentrate mixture and T₃ – 60 per cent cottonseed in concentrate mixture. Additionally, all groups were fed on a basal roughage consisting of 15 kg green Lucerne and ad libitum sorghum stover. The buffaloes of T₃ group consumed significantly (P<0.05) more DM, DCP and TDN than T₁ group, but there were no significant differences were observed between T₂ and T₁ groups. The milk yield and fat in milk were affected (P<0.05) by the level of cottonseed given to buffaloes. The average 6 per cent FCM yield 9.21, 10.16 ands 11.32 kg in T₁, T₂ and T₃ groups, respectively. Higher (P<0.05) milk yield was recorded in T₃ as compared to T₁ group. However, there was no difference in milk yield of T₂ and T₁ groups. A vasectomised bull was paraded among the experimental animals daily for finding the buffaloes in heat and buffaloes showing complete estrus symptom were inseminated. The average post partum oestrus interval in T₁, T₂ and T₃ was 142.33, 85.0 and 83.0 days, respectively. The mean service period was 292.50, 184.50 and 172.33 days, respectively in T₁, T₂ and T₃ treatments. The numbers of services required per conception were 5.83, 3.50 and 3.00 in T₁, T₂ and T₃, respectively. The results showed that higher levels of cottonseed in the diet substantially improved the milk yield and post partum reproductive performance of buffaloes.