Methane Emission from Buffalo Calves Fed on Maize Fodder and Silage Based Rations

Buffalo calves of 1–1.5 Yr. age were divided in two groups of female (T I) and male (T II) calves and fed concentrate mixture and maize fodder. The concentrate mixture was consumed by all the animals. DM intake (kg/d) through green maize fodder was 4.99 and 5.1 in female and male animals. Average total DMI per 100 kg body weight was 1.90 and 2.23 kg, being higher in male animals. DMD was 59.93 and 57.7% in the respective groups, hence total digestible nutrients intake was 3.04 and 2.99 kg/day in the two groups which corresponds to 9.93 and 9.77 MCal of metabolisable energy (ME) consumption by the animals. Total methane produced (g/d) was 79.99 and 93.22 in the two groups, when expressed on the basis of per kg body weight of the animal the values were 306.00 and 409.00 mg. One kg dry matter intake resulted in 15.9 g of methane in female calves and 18.34 g in male calves while intake of one kg digestible dry matter produced 26.70 and 32.17(g) methane by the two groups. However, when expressed in terms of ME intake the values were 8.08 and 9.15 g/MCal which did not differ in two groups. In second experiment all male calves were divided into group I (138.0) and group II (107.3 3) as per body weight and fed maize silage ad lib and one kg concentrate mixture. DM intake was higher in group I, however, not different when expressed as g/kg W^0.75. Digestibility of the nutrients though did not differ statistically yet it was on higher side in group II which resulted in lower methane production per kg DMI (33.63, 27.13). However, each kg of DDMI and DOMI resulted in similar amount of methane production in the two groups. Methane production per day was 76.50g on an average oh maize silage fed calves.