Effect of feeding urea molasses mineral blocks on productive performance of lactating buffaloes

Murrah buffaloes (15;8.7±0.2kg milk; 156±22d parturated; 2^nd-4^th lactation) divided into three similar groups were offered either 3kg concentrate mixture (T₁, 3kg concentrate mixture and urea molasses mineral block (UMMB) prepared by cold process (T₂) or 2.25 kg concentrate mixture and UMMB (T₃), supplemented with 10 kg sorghum fodder and ad lib wheat straw for 120 days. The CP content of concentrate mixture and UMMB was 20 and 29%. The milk yield (kg) per animal was 6.6, 7.1, 6.7 and daily feed intake (kg) was 10.58, 11.75 and 11.34 for treatments T₁, T₂, and T₃, respectively, being non significantly (P<0.05) different. However, the DM and CF digestibility were significantly (P<0.05) higher in group T₂, than in T₁ and T₃ variation between groups T₁ and T₃ was non significant. It was concluded that by supplementing UMMB ad lib alongwith basal diet to milch buffaloes yielding around 7 litres of milk in their late lactation, 25% of concentrate mixture can be saved.