Eating Pattern and Milk Composition of Bhadawari Buffaloes on Different Roughage Source Diets

Effect of roughage sources was studied on eating pattern and milk composition of 18 milch Bhadawari buffaloes distributed in 3 groups (G1, G2 and G3) of 6 each with mean body weight 379.1± 13.27 kg and milk yield 3.97±0.41kg, respectively. Animals in groups G1, G2 and G3 were offered 7 kg each of sorghum hay, grass hay and stylosanthes hay, respectively along with 3 kg of wheat straw and 2 kg concentrate mixture. Milk composition was determined twice in week. The TDN content of roughages, calculated as per NRC (2001) equations, varied between 46.29 to 58.81% and TDN content of concentrate mixture was 75.03%. Relatively higher eating rate was recorded in buffaloes in group G3.(2.82 kg) than in groups G1 (2.37 kg) and G2 (1.98 kg) during 1st h of feeding. During the 4th h of feeding animals of group G3 consumed less DM (0.620 kg) compare to group G2 (1.05 kg). The total meal consumption in initial 3 h of feeding was higher (P<0.05) in group G3 (3.43 kg) than in group G2 (2.50 kg). Daily milk yield and fat content were comparable amongst groups and varied from 3.82 to 4.01 kg and 6.95 to 7.61%, respectively. It was concluded that studied roughage sources have no effect on milk composition and meal consumption in Bhadawari buffaloes.