Effect of Replacing Mustard Cake with Sunflower Cake on Milk Yield and Composition in Murrah Buffaloes

Twelve lactating Murrah buffaloes at similar calving period were divided into three groups, of four each, on the basis of body weight and milk yield in completely randomized design. They were fed iso-nitrogenous and iso-caktric concentrate mixtures containing deoiled sunflower cake replacing mustard cake at 0, SO and 100 (T₁, T₂ and T₃) per cent as protein source to elucidate the effect on milk yield and milk composition. In addition, weighed quantity of wheat straw (ad-libitum) and green oat (20 kg) were fed as per Ranjhan (1998) requirements. The feed intake and milk yield were recorded daily while the milk composition parameters were analyzed at weekly intervals. Though the daily dry matter intake was similar, intake of DM per kg milk production was found to be significantly (p<0.05) higher on 100 per cent replacement The daily milk yield as well as 6 per cent FCM and SCM yields did not differ due to dietary variations. Similar was the trend with respect to milk composition in terms of fat, protein, total solids and SNF. It in turn resulted in comparable cost of feeding and for per unit milk production. Thus mustard cake can completely be replaced with deoiled sunflower cake in a concentrate mixture without any adverse effect on milk yield and composition of lactating Murrah buffaloes.