Division of Dairy Cattle Nutrition, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal - 132 001, India
Online published on 5 January, 2012.
Fifteen male murrah buffaloes weredivided into 3 groups of 5 each. Animals in group I were given only paddy straw while those in groups 11 and III were given paddy straw along with supplementation of UMMB ‘Ex’ and ‘C’ free choice. UMMB supplementation significantly (P<0.05) increased DMI (kg/d) (from 4.84±0.45 to 7.51 ±0.44) and digestibility coefficients of DM and OM (from 55.5 and 54.27 to 58.98 and 58.27). Digestibility of other nutrient was not affected. Balances of N, Ca and P were negative in group I(-12.57±1.64; -10.07±0.67 and -1.02±0.14), which became positive when UMMB was supplemented. However, the diiferences in balances observed between group II and III were non significant. Total nitrogen, ammonia-N and urea N content in blood increased significantly (P<0.01) in group II and III but remained in the physiological limits. It is therefore concluded that UMMB supplementation improves the paddy straw utilization.
