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Nutritional evaluation of organically grown fodders in lactating Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

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A Publisher’s Erratum to this article was published on 22 February 2014

Abstract

A study was undertaken to evaluate the nutritional response of organically grown diets in buffaloes on nutrients utilization and nutrient efficiency for milk production. For this, ten milch Murrah buffaloes of average body weight (490.72 ± 6.65 kg), milk yield (8.13 ± 0.33 kg), and lactation stage (85 ± 5.28 days) were distributed in inorganic (InDg) and organic dietary groups (OrDg) with five animals in each. Buffaloes of InDg and OgDg were fed sorghum hay–berseem fodder-concentrate mixture-based diets grown inorganically and organically, respectively. After 60 days of feeding, a digestion cum metabolism trial was conducted to assess feed intake, nutrient utilization, and N balance, while milk yield and composition were recorded fortnightly. DM, CP, digestible crude protein (DCP), and metabolizable energy (ME) intake (g/Kg w0.75) were similar in animals of InDg and OrDg. NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose digestibility were (P < 0.05) higher in animals on OrDg (59.20, 51.55, and 62.67) than InDg diet (54.57, 43.72, and 56.61 %), respectively. Urinary n loss (g/day) was (P < 0.05) lower in OrDg (67.23) than in InDg (83.55); however, milk N was comparable in animals of both dietary groups (47.36 vs 45.82 g/day). Nitrogen balance was higher in animals of OrDg (39.72) than in InDg (28.08). DCP, TDN, and ME values of both diets were similar. No effect of diet was observed on milk yield and its composition; however, increased lactation length decreased milk yield. Buffaloes on both diets had similar efficiency and conversion ratio of nutrients for milk production. Results revealed that diets (organically vs. inorganically grown) have no effect on milk yield and its composition; however, buffaloes on organic diet have higher fiber digestibility and low urinary N loss which did not affect the dietary nutrients efficiency and conversion ratio for milk production.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Institute Director for providing animals and laboratory facilities to carry out this study. Thanks are due to Crop Production Division for providing technical help and guidelines to produce sorghum berseem and barley grain crops in organic and inorganic fertilizer management practices.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Animal Relationship Division, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, 284003, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Sultan Singh, Subir Kumar Nag, Subhendu Bikash Maity & Badri Prasad Kushwaha

  2. Network Project on Bhadawari Buffaloes, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, 284003, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Badri Prasad Kushwaha

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  1. Sultan Singh
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  2. Subir Kumar Nag
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  3. Subhendu Bikash Maity
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  4. Badri Prasad Kushwaha
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Correspondence to Sultan Singh.

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An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0555-z.

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Singh, S., Nag, S.K., Maity, S.B. et al. Nutritional evaluation of organically grown fodders in lactating Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Trop Anim Health Prod 45, 251–257 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-012-0198-x

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