Effect of Eucalyptus Leaves Supplementation in Ration on Lactating Buffaloes Performance

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of fresh and dry eucalyptus leaves on feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation activity, blood serum biochemical, milk yield and composition, feed conversion and economic efficiency of lactating buffaloes. Twenty lactating multiparous Egyptian buffaloes in 3rd and 5th lactation seasons and weighed 550 kg on average were used in complete randomized design after 8 weeks of calving (peak period) and assigned into five similar groups of four buffaloes each according to milk yield and live body weight. Animals were individually fed on a basal ration (BR) consisted of 40% concentrate feed mixture (CFM), 30% fresh berseem (FB) and 30% rice straw (RS). The first group was un supplemented and served as a control group (G1). Those in the second and third groups were supplemented with 50 and 100 g of fresh eucalyptus leaves per head per day for low level (G2) and high level (G3). Animals in the fourth and fifth groups were supplemented with 15 and 30 g of dry eucalyptus leaves per head per day for low level (G4) and high level (G5). G3 recorded significantly the highest digestibility coefficients of all nutrients and feeding values followed by G2, G5 and G4, whereas control one (G1) had the lowest values. Ruminal pH value tended to decreased with Eucalyptus leaves additive. Group 3 showed significantly the highest TVFA’s and the lowest NH3-N concentration followed by G2, G5 and G4, while G1 had the opposite trend. Moreover, G3 revealed significantly the highest concentrations of total protein and globulin and the lowest urea, urea-N and creatinine and activity of SGOT and SGPT enzymes in blood serum followed by G2, G5 and G4, while G1 had reverse values. However, serum albumin concentration was nearly similar for the different groups. Group 3 recorded significantly the highest feed intake (DM, TDN and DCP), yield of actual milk and 7% FCM, milk composition (fat, protein, lactose, SNF, TS and ash) and milk constituents yield followed by G2, G5 and G4, while G1 had the lowest values. Also, G3 recorded significantly the lowest amounts of DM, TDN and DCP per 1 kg 7% FCM followed by G2, G5 and G4, while G1 had the highest amounts. At the same time, G3 recorded significantly the highest values of feed cost, output of 7% FCM yield, net revenue and economic efficiency and the lowest feed cost per kg 7% FCM followed by G2, G5 and G4, while G1 had the opposite values. In conclusion, addition of fresh eucalyptus leaves at the level of 100 g/head/day recorded the best improvements in feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation activity, some blood serum biochemical, milk yield and composition, feed conversion and economic efficiency of lactating buffaloes.

Effect of Cellulase Enzyme Produced from Penicilliumchrysogenum on the Milk Production, Composition, Amino Acid, and Fatty Acid Profiles of Egyptian Buffaloes Fed a High-Forage Diet

The experiment was conducted to study the effects of supplementing a cellulase enzymes cocktail to lactating buffaloes’ diet, on the nutrient intake, nutrient digestibility, and milk production performance and composition. Twenty-four lactating Egyptian buffaloes were assigned into one of the following treatments: CON—control consisted of a total mixed ration, CENZ—the total mixed ration supplemented by a commercial source of cellulase enzyme, FENZ—the total mixed ration supplemented with cellulase enzyme cocktail produced in-farm. Supplementing the diet with the in-farm source of cellulase (FENZ) had a significantly higher impact on crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber digestibility. However, FENZ tended to increase the EE digestibility compared to CENZ. FENZ showed significantly higher nutrient digestibility percentages compared to other groups. Supplementing the diet with cellulase enzymes (CON vs. ENZ) significantly increased the daily milk yield and the fat correct milk yield; both yields were significantly higher with FENZ than all groups. Oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acid concentration were significantly higher with cellulase enzymes supplementation (CON vs. ENZ) and the conjugated linoleic acid concentration. Supplementing fungal cellulase enzyme produced on a farm-scale has improved milk productivity, fat yield, and milk fat unsaturated fatty acids profile in lactating buffaloes.

Thermal Comfort Index for Lactating Water Buffaloes under Hot and Humid Climate

Heat stress results in serious performance losses and adversely affects animal health and welfare under various production systems. This study was conducted to develop a thermal comfort model for lactating buffaloes under hot and humid climate. Twenty Nili-Ravi buffaloes were randomly enrolled for this one-year study. Physiological parameters including rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), and body surface temperature (BST) and environmental variables such as wet bulb temperature (WBT), dew point temperature (DPT), and black globe temperature (BGT) were recorded twice a week on each Tuesday and Thursday (n = 1602 and 1560, respectively) at 8:00 am and 2:30 pm. Moreover, ambient temperature (AT, °C) and relative humidity (RH, %), at an interval of every 30 min were recorded. We used a typical correlation analysis to build the index models for thermal comfort. The results revealed that AT positively correlated with BGT, WBT, DPT, BST, RT, and RR, while RH negatively correlated with RT. Moreover, a physiological index model consisting of BST, RT and RR (P1 = 0.578 × BST + 0.047 × RT + 0.429 × RR) and an environmental index model (E1 = 0.881 × AT + 0.194 × RH + 0.455 × BGT − 0.347 × WBT + 0.032 × DPT) proved to be a more accurate index as a pair to reveal the state of thermal comfort in lactating buffaloes. Moreover, these models correlated well with physiological variables, indicating that this this pair of index models can be used to effectively evaluate the thermal comfort in buffaloes.

Investigation of prevalence and risk factors of subclinical mastitis of dairy buffaloes at Bhola district of Bangladesh

The subclinical mastitis is more serious and is responsible for much greater loss to the dairy industry in Bangladesh. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis and identify the associated risk factors in randomly selected 200 lactating buffaloes (192 local and 8 crossbred) at some selected regions of Bhola district, Bangladesh during the period from March 2018 to February 2019. California Mastitis Test (CMT) was performed on each quarter milk sample of lactating buffaloes at field condition for the determination of subclinical mastitis in dairy buffaloes. Overall prevalence of subclinical mastitis was 10.50% (21/200). The prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) was comparatively higher in crossbred (12.5%) as compared to local breed (10.42%). The highest prevalence of SCM in dairy buffaloes was also found in late lactation period (12.82%), age group 7 to 18 years (13.46%), rainy season (11.1%) and 2nd parity group (10.74%). Moreover, the buffaloes graze in free range areas; large and medium sized farms; poor health conditions and other diseases of post parturient period increasing the susceptibility of SCM. For early diagnosis of subclinical mastitis, CMT can be performed regularly as a control measures and emphasis should be provided on farm management practices; particularly on milking hygiene and udder sanitation. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2020, 6(4): 697-704

Performance of lactating buffaloes in pasture supplemented with palm-kernel cake

Context Palm-kernel cake (PKC) is a by-product widely evaluated as a feed additive in several species of ruminant animals. However, no information of its use in buffaloes is observed. Thus, considering the characteristics of PKC and that buffaloes are able to digest greater amounts of fibre than are other animals, it is thought that PKC can be used as a supplement for lactating buffaloes in pasture. Aims The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of concentrate supplementation and the inclusion of PKC instead of conventional concentrate ingredients on the production and composition of milk, intake and nutrient digestibility of lactating buffaloes in pasture during the dry season. Methods Five crossbred buffaloes with average bodyweight of 641.45 ± 45.87 kg were used and distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square-design experiment. The treatments consisted in one treatment with mineral salt supplementation (cows fed just forage; MSS control group), and four other treatments in which the cows grazed and received 3 kg/day of concentrated supplementation. The four treatments with concentrated supplementation had different inclusion levels of PKC as a supplement, which were 0%, 30.24%, 66.38% and 90.62% of dry matter (DM) replacing corn and soybean meal. A contrast between the treatment with mineral salt supplementation (MSS control group) versus the four treatments supplemented with concentrate was analysed. In addition, to analyse the effect of inclusion of PKC in the concentrate supplement, the linear and quadratic effects were analysed by decomposing the sum of squares of each level of inclusion of PKC. Key results There was no difference (P > 0.05) in pasture DM intake among the supplemented animals and the control-group animals (MSS). The supplemented animals (regardless of the level of inclusion of PKC) had higher (P < 0.05) fat-corrected milk production and a higher percentage of fat and lactose in the milk than did the MSS control-group animals. The intake of the supplement, crude protein and total digestible nutrients showed a decreasing linear effect (P < 0.05) with the inclusion of PKC. The daily milk production showed a decreasing linear effect (P < 0.05) with the inclusion of PKC in the concentrate. Conclusions Concentrate supplementation for lactating buffaloes in pasture increases the amount of fat in the milk and the production of energy-corrected milk. The inclusion of PKC in concentrate supplement, replacing corn and soybean meal, decreases supplement intake and milk production. Implications The data suggested that PKC reduced milk solids when replacing conventional concentrate ingredients; however, PKC supplements stimulated milk yield when compared with mineral salt supplementation (MSS control group). Therefore, if the inclusion of PKC reduces feeding costs, it is an economic source of supplement to promote milk production.