Effect of faba bean (Vicia faba) as A source of dietary protein on reproductive performance and blood biochemical parameters in buffalo

The present study was carried out to study the effect of Faba Bean (Vicia faba) as protein source on performance of Murrah Buffaloes. For this, eighteen Murrah buffaloes in transition phase were utilized in a completely randomized design (CRD) and divided into three treatment groups i.e. T1, T2 & T3, having six buffaloes in each group on the basis of milk yield, body weight and parity. All the animals were kept in separate/individual shed and fed the required quantity of feeds and fodder to meet out the nutrients requirements as per ICAR (2013) feeding standards. The experimental buffaloes of control group (T1) were fed/offered dry & green roughages and concentrate mixture constituting of maize (29 ), barley (19.5), wheat (18), mustard cake(11), groundnut cake (10.5), soybean meal (9), mineral mixture (02) & common salt (01 part) having 18.5% crude protein. While in treatment T2 & T3 groups 15 and 30 percent crude protein of concentrate mixture of control was replaced with faba bean, respectively. The reproductive parameters post- partum estrus, service period, number of services per conception and conception rate were recorded for individual buffalo of all groups. The blood sample were analyzed for estimation of blood parameters i.e. WBC, RBC, Haemoglobin. The sera samples were analyzed for their content of biochemical parameters i.e. Phosphorous, Calcium, Magnesium, Glucose, Urea, Cholesterol, Albumin, Protein, Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). It was reported that reproductive and haemato- biochemical parameters did not differ significantly among different treatment groups. So, it can be concluded that replacement of high cost protein source with faba bean (Vicia faba) up to 30% level does not have any deleterious effect on reproductive performance and haematological profile of the buffalo and also economical to the farmers as it reduced the feeding cost . These findings indicate that feeding of faba bean in buffalo diet supported reproductive & blood biochemical parameters similar to fed traditional oil seed cake based diet.