Effect of fibrozyme supplemention on rumen metabolism and nutrient digestibility in buffalo calves

The effect of fibrozyme supplementation at three levels to the normal diet of buffalo calves on rumen metabolism and nutrient digestibility was assessed. Twelve rumen-fistulated male buffalo calves divided into 4 equal groups were offered either a conventional basal diet (2.6 kg wheat straw, 1.3 kg berseem (Trifolium alexandrium) and 2.3 kg concentrate) or basal diet supplemented with 10, 15 or 20 g fibrozyme/calf/d. Addition of fibrozyme increased the concentrations of hexose-unit oligosaccharides by 10.1, 14.9 (P<0.05) and 18.0% (P<0.05), total VFA by 3.62, 4.36 and 3.94% and TCA-precipitable protein by 24.6, 39.5 and 41.4% (P<0.01), respectively. Addition of fibrozyme at all the levels in the diet also increased (P<0.01) the digestibility of DM, NDF and ADF. The optimum level of fibrozyme supplementation was 15 g/animal/d.