Influence of Prepartum Plane of Nutrition on Nutrient Utilization and Performance in Murrah Buffaloes

Maternal nutritional status pre-partum acts as a determining factor not only for the health status of the off-spring but also, for production yield of upcoming lactation phase, thereby feeding during this time period is of utmost importance. The present study investigated the effect of feeding a high plane of nutrition to prepartum Murrah buffaloes on the birth weight of calves and their performance, nutrient utilization, and blood metabolites. Forty pregnant Murrah (4 months before parturition) buffaloes were divided into four experimental groups based on parity, previous lactation yield and body weight as control. Based on the ICAR (2013) requirements for metabolizable protein (MP) and metabolizable energy (ME), four dietary treatments were formulated: (i) a control ration as per ICAR (2013); (ii) a high metabolizable energy (HME) ration containing 30% more ME; (iii) a high metabolizable protein (HMP) ration with 40% more MP; and (iv) a high metabolizable energy and protein (HMEMP) ration with 30% higher ME and 40%higher MPthantheICAR(2013)recommendations.Afeedingtrialwasconductedusingtheserations until the date of parturition. Concentrate mixture, green fodder (maize) and dry roughage (wheat straw) were offered to individual animal as per experimental protocol. Dry matter intake and metabolizable energy intake were significantly (P<0.05) higher for HMEMP, followed by HMP, HME and control group.Average daily body weight gain of pre-partum dams was higher (P<0.05) in HMEMP that is 946.08 g/d, followed by HME (761.67 g/d) and HMP (753.17g/d), with lowest for control group (576.08 g/d). It was observed that digestibility coefficients (%) of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre were higher (P<0.05) in groups HMP, HME and HMEMP as compared to the control. It was concluded that group fed HMEMP diet i.e., an additional 40% protein and 30% energy above ICAR, 2013 requirements during last four months of pregnancy resulted in higher body weight gain and better nutrient digestibility compared to groups fed individual diets having high levels of energy (HME) or protein (HMP).