Assessment of Feeding Practices for Milch Buffaloes in Kutch District of North Gujarat

A survey was conducted in five talukas viz. Mundra, Mandavi, Anjar, Bhuj and Nakhatrana of Kutch district (Gujarat) to record the present feeding practices being followed by the farmers. Multistage Random Sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Two villages were selected in each taluka, which were geographically located apart in direction and truly represented the animal husbandry practices of the area. In each village, 10 farmers who own animals producing at least 6–8 kg or more milk per day, were selected. The selected farmers were interviewed on the basis of questionnaire developed. Most of the dairy animal owners keep their animals under stall-fed conditions either at home or at farm within a limited area and also allow free grazing to these animals in fields. The quantity of concentrate fed (kg/day) to buffaloes in different talukas ranged between 4.34 and 5.62 and the maximum being 5.62 in Anjar taluka. The district average was 5.05 kg/day. The feeding of green fodders to buffaloes in different talukas ranged between 0.00 and 14.59 kg/day. The district average worked out as 10.04 kg/day. The dry roughage feeding ranged between 6.97 and 15.64 kg/day in buffaloes. The average concentrate to roughage ratio in buffaloes of different talukas ranged between 24.67:75.33 and 32.00:68.00.The concentrate feed like cotton seed cake and wheat bran were given separately at the time of milking. The buffaloes produced daily on an average 8.27 to 10.87 kg whole milk and 9.56 to 12.01 kg 6% FCM. The average DCP intake of buffaloes in entire Kutch district ranged from 98.85 to 107.45% of requirement (ICAR, 1998), but did not differ significantly among talukas, however, the same differed significantly (p<0.01) between villages within talukas. The buffaloes were underfed with respect to DCP 9.26, 16.20, 12.20, 22.08 and 29.16% in Mundra, Mandavi, Anjar, Bhuj and Nakhatrana taluka, respectively. The overall TDN intake in buffaloes in the district ranged from 99.02 to 105.13% of requirement (ICAR, 1998). In this respects the buffaloes of different talukas did not differ significantly, however, the same differed significantly (p<0.01) between villages within talukas. The buffaloes with respect to TDN were 19.20, 20.24, 18.64, 19.20 and 20.26% moderately underfed and 5.26, 4.27, 0.00, 5.26 and 7.31% overfed in Mundra, Mandavi, Anjar, Bhuj and Nakhatrana taluka, respectively. It was concluded that there is a need to correct the feeding practices with respect to DCP and TDN intakes of buffaloes in Kutch district of Gujarat.