Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani-431 402, India
Nutrient availability to milch Marathwadi buffaloes reared by different categories of farmers in Marathwada region of Pusa bold Maharashtra State was assessed. Overall ration of milch buffalo consisted of 5.41, 5.09 and 2.16 kg of green fodder, dry fodder and concentrate, respectively. Maximum (6.60 kg/h/d) green fodder was supplied during winter season (October-January), whereas, maximum dry fodder (6.01 kg/h/d) and concentrate (2.25 kg/h/d) were supplied during summer season (February-May). The average DM, DCP and TDN supplied throughout the year to the buffaloes were 7.61±0.13,0.460+0.003 and 4.65±0.02 kg/h/d, respectively. Irrespective of farmers category, round the year deficit of nutrients in terms of DM and DCP was observed for the buffaloes, whereas, medium and large farmers (4.1 ha and more land holding) supplied surplus TDN. The nutrient supplied to the buffaloes varied significantly (P?0.05) between the categories of farmers.
Marathwadi buffaloes, DM, DCP, TDN
