A metabolic study on Barbari kids raised on buffers included diets
Abstract
Through random sampling, 24 Barbari kids were divided into 4 groups on the basis of phenotypic features and administered buffers viz. sodium bicarbonate (SB) and magnesium oxide (MO) in combination @ 0 & 0(A), 0.5 & 0.25 (B), 1 & 0.5 (C) and 1.5 & 0.75(D) per cent of dry matter intake (DMI) assumed to be 4% of live weight (LW). The diet of each kid contained Cajanus cajan straw ad-lib and 100g concentrate (gram chuni) daily. After 21 and 35 days (d) of experiment ruminal study and metabolic trials were conducted for 5 and 7d, respectively and the samples of ruminal fluid, feed, residue, faeces and urine were chemically analysed. The data were statistically analysed using RBD. TVFA, butyric acid and isovaleric acid increased and acidity, total-N and ammonia-N reduced in rumen liquor due to addition of buffers in kids diet. Voluntary intake of almost all the nutrients and digestibility of CF increased due to supplementation of buffers in kid's ration. It can be concluded that administration of buffers viz. SB and MO in combination affected rumen fermentation in such a way as to improve the acceptability of feed and utilization of nutrients in kids.
Keywords
Buffers, Kids, Magnesium Oxide, Metabolism, Rumen environment, Sodium bicarbonate
