Effect of Feeding Bypass Nutrients on Milk Production and Composition in Buffaloes under Field Conditions

On-farm feeding trial was conducted at the Jalat and Borkheda villages of Dahod district in Gujarat state for 150 days to know the effect of feeding formaldehyde treated guar meal (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) and commercial bypass fat supplement to recently calved 18 Mehsani buffaloes in their 2nd to 3rd lactation belonging to different farmers. The buffaloes yielding 8–10 kg milk/day were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments (6 in each group) i.e. T₁ (Control) and T₂ (Bypass protein) and T₃ group (Bypass protein and bypass fat), based on daily milk yield, fat % and body weight and offered isonitrogenous and isocaloric ration. The cumulative DMI of experimental buffaloes was 1818.79, 1989.19 and 1925.02 kg/head for 150 days in T₁, T₂ and T₃ groups, respectively which differed from each other. The milk fat % of experimental buffaloes was higher (P<0.01) than that of control. The TS % was higher (P<0.01) in T₃ as compared to control (T₁). The SNF content was not affected by different treatments. The daily yield of milk and 6% FCM was significantly higher (P<0.01) in T₂ and T₃ as compared to that of T₁, where as that of T₂ and T₃ were similar. This increase in whole milk, 6% FCM and fat yield were consistent during the whole experimental period. The daily feed cost was found to be lower by 1.68% in T₂ and higher by 6.99% in T₃ over T₁. The daily realizable receipt from sale of milk (Rs./head) was higher (P<0.01) in T₃ & T₂ than T₁, which was due to higher fat yield in T₂ and T₃. The daily return over feed cost (ROFC) was higher (P<0.01) in T₂ and T₃ as compared to T₁ group. The ROFC was found to be higher by 39.68% under T₂ and 42.75% under T₃ over control ration (T₁). However, it was found to be less by 3.07% in T₂ over T₃ group. The results of the present study indicate the importance of feeding bypass protein alone or in combination with bypass fat that results in improvement in dry matter intake, yield of whole milk, 6% FCM, fat and TS and return over feed cost from buffaloes during their early lactation.