Effect of Feeding Urea Mineral Molasses Block on Milk Production, Milk Composition and Onset of Estrus in Dairy Animals

Twelve Murrah buffaloes and Jersey crossbred cows each in mid lactation with similar age, body weight and milk yield were selected from dairy farms of the local farmers and divided into two groups of six animals each of buffalo and cow. One group of each species considered as control, (Buffalo control-BC, Jersey control-JC), were maintained on conventional diet of paddy straw (PS) and concentrate supplement (CS) without mineral mixture (4-5kg/d for buffaloes and 3-4kg/d for cows). While other group of each species, considered as treatment group (Buffalo treatment-BT, Jersey treatment-JT), was fed conventional diet plus urea mineral molasses block (UMMB) ad libitum for 60 days. The difference among the treatment groups in nutrient intake was significant (P≤0.01) except for EE intake. The average milk yield (kg/d), fat and SNF content (%) of milk in groups BC, BT, JC and JT were 6.0±0.1, 7.2±0.1, 4.7±0.1 and 6.0±0.2; 4.4±0.1, 5.3±0.1, 2.9±0.0 and 3.3±0.0; 8.2±0.1, 9.1±0.0, 7.8±0.1 and 9.0±0.0, respectively, being significantly (P≤0.01) different among the groups. It was concluded that feeding of UMMB along with basal diet influenced nutrient intake in buffalos but not in cows. Where as feeding of UMMB improved milk yield and composition both in buffalos and cows. Further, it also helped in the onset of oestrus in both species during the feeding trial.