Effect of vitamin E supplementation on the performance of buffalo calves

Male Murrah buffalo calves (15; 14–15 m old of 194.0±3.5kg BW) divided into three equal groups were fed either basal diet (wheat straw and concentrate mixture) or basal diet supplemented with 300 or 600 IU DL-alpha tocopheryl acetate/animal/d for 120 days in a completely randomized design. Simultaneously, 3 rumen fistulated male buffaloes (3 years old of 370 kg BW) were used for assessing the effect of above diets on rumen metabolites in a switch over design. Intake and digestibility of nutrients, balance of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus were statistically comparable (P>0.05) in all the groups. There was no significant effect of vitamin E supplementation on pH, nitrogen fractions, total volatile fatty acids, their fractions, and protozoa number in rumen liquor of buffalo bulls. The average daily gain was also statistically (P>0.05) similar in all the groups. Data on hematological, blood biochemical parameters including enzyme levels showed non-significant (P>0.05) variation due to vitamin E supplementation. It was concluded that supplementation of vitamin E had no positive effect on the growth performance of male buffalo calves.