Efficacy of Supplementary Feeding of Bypass Fat and Area Specific Mineral Mixture on the Production and Reproductive Performance in Milch Buffaloes

Abstract

Background: Bypass fat, also called rumen-protected fat, boosts dairy animals¢energy for better milk production and health. Mineral deficiency is a leading cause of poor growth, weakened immunity, lower milk yield and reproductive issues in dairy animals. Considering the aforementioned details, an on farm trial was undertaken at farmer’s field to assess the effectiveness of bypass fat and mineral mixture on overall performance of milch buffalo. Methods: Twenty lactating Murrah buffaloes reared under farmer's field were selected and distributed equally in two groups of ten buffaloes in each group, i.e. T1 (control) and T2 (supplementation bypass fat @ 100 g and minerals mixture @ 50 g/day/ buffalo beside the farmer practices). Result: The outcome of study revealed that the additional of bypass fat and a mineral mixture had no effect on the weights of the buffaloes undergoing the experiment. Supplementation of bypass fat and mineral mixture did not influence the DM intake (in terms of kg/d and DMI %) in lactating buffalo. The mean milk yield during supplementation period was determined 10.19 ±0.36 and 12.13±0.43 l/day in group T1 and T2, respectively; which was 19.04 per cent higher in group T2 than the control. The average length of the postpartum estrus cycle (62.20±5.86 days) and service period (82.49±7.46 days) was significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced in supplemented group than control (86.40±11.57 days and 131.00±12.33 days, respectively) at farmer¢s field. AI per conception was also observed to be significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in non-supplemented group than the supplemented group. AI per conceptions in supplemented group and control group was recorded 1.39±0.33 and 2.71±0.44, respectively. It could be inferred from the observations that the feeding of bypass fat and area-specific mineral mixture in the diet significantly (P less than 0.05) improved the yield of milk and its composition as well as postpartum reproductive performance in milch buffalo at farmer’s field.