Comparative Dry Matter Intake and Nutrient Utilization Efficiency in Growing Cattle and Buffaloes - An analysis of Observed Results

An attempt was made to analyse comparative dry matter intake and nutrient utilization efficiency based on the.results obtained from growth trials on cattle and buffaloes conducted in India. The intakeof DM, TDN, CP and DCP; body weights and average daily gain were collected from 79 and 61 reports on feeding trials conducted on growing cattle and buffaloes. The DMI and nutrient utilization efficiency were calculated for various body weights. The DMI (g/W^MS kg) values were higher (P<0.05) in cattle (93.8 and 87.6 g) than in buffaloes (88.4 and 80.3) at 200 and 300 kg body weight. Higher (P<0.01) feed consumption was observed in cattle than in buffaloes weighing 100 and 200 kg body weight when reared on straw and green based diets, respectively. The roughage to concentrate ratio was correlated (P<0.01) with gain in body weight of growing buffaloes at straw based rations. The buffalo calves weighing upto 250 kg consumed lesser (P<0.05) DM, TDN, CP and DCP per unit live weight gain than growing cattle of simi lar weight. It can be cone) uded that the dry matter intake is higher in growing cattle than in growing buffaloes but buffalo calves utilized dry matter, energy and protein more efficiently for growth than cattle calves.