Department of Animal Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004.
Online published on 21 January, 2012.
Energy values of rations having different levels of crude fibre were estimated on buffaloes at the maintenance level. The rations were (R1) oat-hay, (R2) oat-hay 80% and maize grain 20%, (R3) oat-hay 60% and maize grain 40%, (R4) oat-hay 40% and maize grain 60% and (R5) oat-hay 20% and maize grain 80%. The digestibility of DM, CP, EE, NFE and NDF increased as the grain level increased, whereas CF digestibility showed the severse trend. The tissue nitrogen balance increased with increasing proportion of grains in the ration and itrangedfrom 8.58 to 31.03 g/head/day. Faecal energy loss was highest (39.4 Meal) on all hay ration and lowest (30.3 Meal) when 80 per cent hay was replaced by corn grain, There was no significant difference in the urinary and methane energy losses. Simple regression equations to predict the energetic value with varying CF and NDF contents were worked out.
