PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, RUMINAL FERMENTATION AND NUTRIENT UTILIZATION OF BUFFALO COWS FED PEA TOPS SILAGE. | ||
| Journal of Animal and Poultry Production | ||
| Article 3, Volume 25, Issue 12, December 2000, Pages 7545-7558 PDF (640.08 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jappmu.2000.260269 | ||
| Authors | ||
| E. M. Abdel-Raouf,; M. S. Saleh; A. M. Metwally; N. M. Eweedah | ||
| Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafr El-Sheikh, Tanta University. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Fifteen lactating buffalo cows were distributed into three equal groups according to their milk production, body weights and fed a ration containing 65% roughage and 35% concentrate. Control group (HCR) was offered a forage mixture of 40.75% berseem hay and 24.35% rice straw. Berseem hay and rice straw in the control ration were replaced by pea silage and corn silage at either 39.64 and 25.41% in group PCC1 or 20.88 and 44.06% in group PCC2, respectively, on dry matter basis. Criteria determined were digestibility coefficients, rumen parameters, blood constituents, milk yield, and milk composition. The present results show that most of the digestibility coefficients and nutritive values were significantly higher for PCC1 and PCC2 rations than HCR ration. Furthermore, ruminal VFA`s and ammonia-nitrogen concentrations for animals fed PCC1 and PCC2 rations were significantly higher than those fed HCR ration. However, the lowest value for ruminal pH was recorded PCC1 while the highest value was for HCR. Moreover, the molar proportion of acetic, propionic and butyric acids did not significantly differ between treatment groups, in spit of both of acetic and butyric acids were slightly higher for groups fed PCC1 and PCC2 rations compared to HCR ration. In addition, there were no significant differences between the groups in blood concentrations of haemoglobin, cholesterol, glucose, insulin and GPT. While blood serum protein, urea and GOT values were significantly higher in groups fed rations PCC1 and PCC2 compared to the control group. All blood parameters were significantly fluctuated during the experimental period, whereas Hb, cholesterol, glucose and insulin values were significantly declined but protein, urea and GPT concentrations increased with the progress of the lactation period. Concerning milk production, fat corrected milk (4% FCM), and fat, protein, lactose, total solids and solids not fat percentages as well as energy Mcal/kg milk, data indicated that the maximum values were obtained when berseem hay and rice straw in the control group were replaced by both pea silage and corn silage. Nevertheless, milk yield and ash percentage was not affected. On the other hand, milk yields, 4% FCM and its composition significantly changed through the experimental period. These data indicated that Inclusion of both pea tops and corn silages in the animal rations increased FCM yield and decreased feed cost/kg FCM. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Buffalo cows; pea tops silage; corn silage; rumen; digestibility; blood constituents; milk; economic efficiency | ||
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