• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권9호
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• pp.1232-1235
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• 2004

In order to investigate the effect of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) on blood metabolites and milk yield of lactating buffaloes, 30 lactating buffaloes after acclimatization for 30 days were divided into 2 groups as control (n=10) and experimental (n=20). Animals were injected 250mg of rbST (Boostin-250) on 0, $14^{th}$ and $28^{th}$ day subcutaneously at ischiorectal fosse, where as control animals were given placebo of 2 ml normal saline. Fortnightly blood samples were collected from 15 days prior to 60 days post injection to estimate different blood metabolites. Daily milk yield was recorded and weekly average yield of each animal was calculated. From this study, it was found that blood metabolites such as glucose, triglycerides, total proteins, albumin, globulin and electrolytes like sodium and potassium were not altered by rbST injection. However, there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration in experimental group as compared to that of control group. The weekly average milk yield was significantly (p<0.001) higher (25%) in rbST injected group over the control group.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.475-478
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• 2005

This study was conducted to evaluate feeding value of berseem and lucerne silage as a replacement for conventional fodder (berseem fodder) in lactating Nili buffaloes. Fifteen early lactating multi-parous Nili buffaloes, five buffaloes in each group were allotted three experimental diets. Berseem and lucerne fodders were ensiled at 30% DM (wheat straw was used to adjust the DM of fodders) with molasses (at the rate of 2% of fodder DM) in two bunker silos for 30 days. The diets contained 75% DM from berseem fodder (BF), 75% DM from berseem silage (BS) and 75% DM from lucerne silage (LS). Each diet contained 25% concentrate DM. Diets were mixed daily and fed twice a day at ad libitum intakes. Dry matter intake (DMI) was significantly higher (13.8 kg/d) in buffaloes fed BF diet than those fed LS (12.5 kg/d) and BS (11.9 kg/day) diets. The differences in digestible DMI and DMI as percent body weight were significant between fodder and silage based diets but non-significant when BS and LS were compared. Lower DMI with silage-based diets was probably because of low silage pH. Intake of NDF (NDFI) was higher (5.68 kg/d) in buffaloes fed BF diet followed by those fed LS (5.50 kg/d) and BS (5.00 kg/d) diets. The difference was significant (p<0.05) across fodder and silage based diets but NDFI was non-significant across both silage-based diets. The apparent DM digestibility was significantly different (p<0.05) between fodder and silage-based diets but was non-significant between LS and BS diets. Four percent fat corrected milk yield was significantly different (p<0.05) between fodder and silage-based diets but was non-significant between LS and BS diets. Higher milk yield with fodder based diet was because of more digestible nutrient intake (Table 3) compared with silage based diets. Milk CP, TP and NPN and SNF did not show any treatment effects. The present results indicated that the berseem and lucerne fodder ensiled at 30% DM level with 2% molasses could safely replace (75% DM) the conventional leguminous fodder in the diets of lactating Nili buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제21권9호
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• pp.1303-1311
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• 2008

Twenty four early lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes, eight in each group, were used in a Randomized Complete Block Design to evaluate the influence of varying ruminally degradable protein (RDP) to ruminally undegradable protein (RUP) ratio on feed intake, digestibility, N balance, milk yield and its composition, conception rate and days open. Three experimental diets were formulated to contain RDP:RUP of 50:50, 66:34 and 82:18 and were denoted as HRUP, MRUP and LRUP, respectively. Dry matter (DM) intake was higher (p<0.05) in buffaloes fed HRUP diet than in those fed MRUP and LRUP diets. Dry matter digestibility was higher (p<0.05) in buffaloes fed LRUP diet than in those fed HRUP and MRUP diets. Linear increase was observed in DM digestibility with increasing RDP:RUP while Neutral detergent fiber digestibility remained unaltered in buffaloes fed HRUP and MRUP diets, however, it was higher than in those fed LRUP diet. Crude protein digestibility remained unaltered across all treatments. Milk and 4 percent fat corrected milk (4% FCM) yield was higher (p<0.05) in buffaloes fed HRUP diet than those fed MRUP and LRUP diets. Linear decrease in milk yield was observed with increased RDP:RUP. Milk protein and fat yields were higher (p<0.05) in animals fed HRUP diet than those fed MRUP and LRUP diets. Milk protein percent in animals fed HRUP diet was higher than in those fed LRUP diet, whereas it did not differ with those fed MRUP diet. Percent of fat, total solids, solid not fat and lactose remained unaltered across all diets. Nitrogen balance was higher in buffaloes fed HRUP diet than in those fed other diets. Increasing the RDP:RUP resulted in a linear decrease in N balance. The blood urea nitrogen and milk urea nitrogen were lower (p<0.05) in buffaloes fed HRUP diet than those fed MRUP and LRUP diets. The blood pH remained unaltered across all treatments. Days open did not differ significantly. Conception rate was higher in buffaloes fed HRUP diet than those fed MRUP and LRUP diets. The findings of the present study indicate that feeding high (50% of the total crude protein) ruminally undegradable protein diet not only increased nutrient intake and milk yield but also improved conception rate in early lactating buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.239-248
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• 1994

To study the relationship between certain hormones and metabolites and between hormones and milk yield during different stage of lactation, six lactating Karan Swiss cows and six Murrah buffaloes were maintained. Growth hormone, insulin, $T_3$, $T_4$, glucose, BHBA, NEFA and milk yield were studied. Highly negative relationship of growth hormone with insulin and triiodothyronine in cows and marginally negative in buffaloes suggest that insulin and triiodothyronine aid in the process of partitioning of nutrients towards milk production through reducing the demands of nutrients by peripheral tissue. The significant and negative correlation of growth hormone with dry matter intake in both the species suggest that the availability of nutrients from the digestive tract play a role in the regulation of growth hormone secretion. Positive relationship of growth hormone with non esterified fatty acids in both the species suggest that high growth hormone levels may result in fat mobilization and thereby increase the availability of energy precursors for milk synthesis. Insulin was negatively correlated with milk yield and lactose content and positively with milk fat and protein but the degree of relationship varied. In both the species the relationship between triiodothyronine and milk yield was negative and between thyroxine and milk yield was positive. However, it was significant only in cows and not in buffaloes. Thyroxine was positively correlated with beta-hydroxybutyrate and non-esterified fatty acids with milk yield in both the species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.427-438
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• 1996

The suitability of female cattle ($Brahman{\times}Holstein$) and buffaloes (Murrah / Jafarabadi) for work on a sugarcane crusher was tested. The animals were fed chopped sugarcane tops and elephant grass supplemented with rice bran and urea-molasses blocks. In experiment 1, six cattle and six buffaloes, (with three animals seven to eight months pregnant at the start of the experiment in each group), worked individually, alternate weeks for 90 minutes a day for 6 d/week. Within the 90 min, cattle did more work than buffaloes (p < 0.05), and non-pregnant animals did more than pregnant animals, but cattle crushed significantly (p < 0.05) more cane per day than buffaloes. During work animals lost weight, but gained the weight back during resting weeks, when fodder intakes were higher. There were no significant differences in live weight change and fodder intakes between pregnant and non-pregnant animals during the six weeks. In experiment 2, four pairs of lactating cows and buffaloes crushed sugarcane for 3 h/d, 6 d/week for three weeks. Work done was higher in cattle than buffaloes, but cane crushed was marginally lower. All animals lost weight during work, particularly in the first week, but gained weight during the week after work. Daily milk yield was lower during the working weeks ($-0.55{\pm}0.15kg$) than in the week before work. Butter fat yield showed no significant change. One buffalo showed ovarian activity and oestrus behaviour during the work. Two cows showed ovarian activity within one month after the work. It was concluded that pregnant and lactating cows and buffaloes can effectively operate a cane crusher, however a temporary reduction in milk yield can be expected in the working period, and ovarian activity may be suppressed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제19권8호
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• pp.1127-1133
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• 2006

This study examined the effect of cane molasses and fermentation time on chemical composition and characteristics of oat grass silage (OGS) and its in situ digestion kinetics, intake, digestibility, milk yield and composition in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Oat grass (OG) harvested at 50-days of age was ensiled in laboratory silos with cane molasses at the rate of 0, 2, 4 and 6% of OG dry matter (DM) for 30, 35 and 40 days. Silage pH was decreased while lactic acid content increased with increasing level of cane molasses and fermentation time. Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and true protein (TP) content of OGS were (p<0.05) significantly higher with higher cane molasses levels. However, they were not affected by the fermentation time. Similar trends were observed for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose, acid detergent lignin and ash content of OGS. The OG ensiled for 30-days with 2% molasses was screened from laboratory study and used to determine comparative in situ DM and NDF digestion kinetics of OG and its silage. In situ DM and NDF digestibilities of OG were significantly (p<0.05) higher than OGS. Ruminal DM and NDF lag time, rate and extent of digestion of OG and its silage were similar. Two experimental diets of OG and OGS were formulated using 75:25 forage to concentrate ratio on a DM basis. Dry matter and CP intakes were similar in lactating buffaloes fed either OG- or OGS-based diets. However, NDF intake was higher in buffaloes fed the OG-compared with OGS-based diet. Apparent DM, CP and NDF digestibilities were similar in lactating buffaloes fed either OG- or OGS-based diets. Milk yield (4% FCM) was similar in buffaloes fed either OG-(10.3 kg/d) or OGS-(9.95 kg/d) based diets. Milk fat, total solids and true protein content were higher with OG compared with the OGS diet. Solids not fat and CP content were similar in milk of buffalo fed either OG or OGS. The results of this study indicate that OG ensiled with 2% molasses could safely replace 75% DM of green oat fodder in the diets of lactating buffaloes without negatively affecting intake, digestibility, milk yield and composition.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.583-585
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• 1992

A study was undertaken to determine the incidence of short oestrus cycles and associated serum progesterone levels in Nili-Ravi buffaloes. Forty lactating buffaloes were kept under observation for oestrus activity for a period of sixty days. Blood samples from jugular vein from twenty buffaloes were used to determine associated serum progesterone levels during short oestrus cycles. Incidence of short oestrus cycles was 15.5 percent (Nine out of fifty eight oestrus cycles) and most of the short oestrus cycles occurred between first and second oestrus after calving. Lengths of short oestrus cycles ranged from 6 to 14 days. The most frequent length was 11 days. Serum progesterone levels were lower at oestrus and increased gradually attaining peak levels of 1.3 and 1.8 ng/ml on 7th day of 9 and 11 day short oestrus cycles. One buffalos exhibiting a short oestrus cycle of 12 days conceived which indicated that ovulation took place at the oestrus of short cycle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권11호
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• pp.1523-1526
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• 2001

To study the secretion of trace elements during early lactation, twelve lactating Murrah buffaloes were selected from the herd of the institute. The buffaloes were divided into two groups of six each. Buffaloes of group I were not injected and served as control. Buffaloes of group II received oxytocin injection (2.5 I.U.) intramuscularly for a period of five days for let down of milk. Milk samples were collected from both groups of buffaloes five days before, during and after the administration of oxytocin. Aliquots of milk samples from each buffalo were composited in proportion to their milk yield and used for analysis of trace elements in milk. In both the groups of buffaloes Cu, Mg, Fe, Zn and Mn contents did not vary significantly between animals. However, Ca levels varied significantly (p<0.01) between animals. Administration of oxytocin influenced (p<0.01) Cu, Mg, Zn, Fe and Mn secretion in milk. However, Ca secretion was not affected by oxytocin administration. Secretion of these elements also varied significantly during different days of the study. Zinc content of milk in the control group also varied significantly (p<0.01) during different days and periods of study indicating thereby no effect of oxytocin. The study indicated that administration of oxytocin increases Cu and Mn content and decreases Mg, Fe and Zn content without altering the Ca concentration of milk.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권11호
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• pp.1529-1534
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• 2004

The nutritive value of lentil straw (Lens culinaris) relative to 4% urea treated wheat straw (w/w) was assessed in adult bucks and milking buffaloes on-station and on-farm, respectively. A digestion-cum-nitrogen balance experiment was conducted with three bucks (24.35 kg) fed ad libitum lentil straw (LS), urea treated wheat straw (UTS) and a 1:1 (w/w DM basis) mixture of LS and UTS (LS:UTS) in a 3$\times$3 Latin square design. Though daily dry matter intake (g kg $W^{0.75}$ or % LW) of bucks fed LS and UTS did not differ significantly, that of LS:UTS was significantly (p<0.05) low. Similarly, digestibility of nutrients (DM, OM and CP) and nitrogen balance (g/day) did not differ significantly for bucks given LS or UTS although a significant positive improvement was evident in these parameters for LS:UTS. The digestibility of fibre fractions (NDF and ADF) was significantly (p<0.05) lower in LS as compared to UTS or LS:UTS. Except for the significantly (p<0.05) lower intake of DCP (g kg$W^{0.75}$), the bucks fed LS had statistically similar nutrient intake as compared to UTS. Feeding of LS:UTS resulted in significantly higher nutrient (DCP, TDN) intake by bucks. The important blood-biochemical parameters (haemoglobin,packed cell volume, glucose, urea nitrogen, total protein) and activity of serum enzymes (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) did not differ significantly in goats irrespective of dietary treatment. In the onfarm study, eighteen multiparous milking buffaloes were randomly assigned into three equal groups to assess the relative effect of feeding untreated wheat straw (WS), UTS and LS:UTS ad libitum as basal feed with a supplement. The study continued for 3 months and revealed that daily dry matter intake and average milk production (liters/day) by buffaloes offered LS:UTS and UTS was statistically similar but it was significantly higher compare to WS. However, milk composition did not differ significantly among the dietary treatments. It may be concluded that the nutritive value of lentil straw appeared to be no different to UTS, however, a positive synergistic effect was evident by feeding a mixture of LS and UTS on performance of goats and lactating buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제1권4호
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• pp.201-208
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• 1988

Fifty-six lactating Surti buffaloes, fed rice straw, were allocated to seven treatment groups as follows: 1. Straw supplemented with 2% urea (SS) + 1.5kg rice bran (RB) 2. Straw treated with 4% urea in an open stack (TS open) 3. TS open + 1.5 kg RB 4. TS open + 3.0 kg RB 5. TS open + 1.5 kg RB + 3.0 kg Gliricidia (Gl) 6. Straw treated with 4% urea in a closed pit (TS closed) 7. TS closed + 1.5 kg RB + 3.0 kg Gl Milk production, butterfat percentage and liveweight gain of cows and calves were measured and tested with analysis of variance. The results are: - The animals on urea treated straw (group 2) had a higher milk production (p<0.05), higher butterfat production (p<0.05) and less liveweight gain loss (p<0.05) than the animals on urea supplemented straw (group 1). Butterfat percentage also increased by treatment, although not significantly (p>0.05). - Increasing levels of rice bran (groups 3 and 4 compared to 2) increased total milk production and milked quantity of butterfat, while butterfat percentage decreased (p < 0.05). - Milk production increased (p <0.05) with extra rice bran added (group 4 compared to 3), but was not affected (p > 0.05) by Gliricidia addition (group 5 compared to 3). Butterfat percentage dropped with extra rice bran supplement (p <0.05). The lack of response to Gliricidia indicated that protein is not limiting in treated straw, or that Gliricidia protein is partly insoluble. - System of treatment had no effect on milk production (p >0.05), while supplementation with 1.5 kg RB and 3.0 kg Gliricidia increased production and caused a lower butterfat percentage (p <0.05) (groups 2, 5, 6 and 7 compared). A significant (p <0.05) interaction treatment system x supplementation was present. It was concluded, that both treatment and supplementation did affect milk production as well as milk composition. Gliricidia addition gave less effect than rice bran, indicating different requirements for starchy substances in the feed. Treatment of straw does not negatively affect butterfat production, it can increase butterfat production and even butterfat percentage.