Milk production efficiency improvement in buffaloes through the use of slow ammonia release and protected protein supplement

Abstract

To study the effect of feeding Slow Ammonia Release and Protected Protein supplement (SARPP) on blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and urinary levels of allantoins as well as on quantity and quality of milk, a feeding trial was conducted on 24 lactating buffaloes. Animals were divided into three similar groups, fed on standard basal ration. Animals in group-I were fed 1.0 kg untreated rapeseed meal containing 50 g untreated urea, animals in group II were fed 1.0 kg treated rapeseed meal containing 50 g untreated urea and animals in group III were fed 1.0 kg treated rapeseed meal containing 50 g treated urea (SARPP supplement), in place of one kg compound cattle feed. Levels of BUN and allantoins in urine were 10.33, 10.48 & 9.64 (P<0.05) mg/dl and 2.35, 3.03 & 5.23 (P<0.01) mmol/litre in groups I, II and III, respectively. Daily average milk yield was 6.46, 7.42 (P<0.05) and 7.70 (P<0.01) kg in groups I, II and III, respectively. Average fat and protein % were 6.64 & 3.41, 6.81 (P<0.05) & 3.53 and 6.95 (P<0.05) & 3.57 in groups I, II and III, respectively. On feeding SARPP supplement, crop residues and dietary proteins could be utilized in a more efficient manner in buffaloes.