In situ Degradation Kinetics of Crop Residue Based Complete Rations in Murrah Buffalo Bulls

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to determine the in situ degradation kinetics of crop residue based complete rations using Nylon bag technique. Three iso-nitrogenous complete rations comprising of maize stover (T1), red gram straw (T2) or black gram straw (T3) and concentrate in 60: 40 proportion were prepared and evaluated for their rumen degradable DM, CP, NDF and ADF content using three adult male graded Murrah buffalo bulls (350 ± 9.36 kg) fitted with permanent rumen cannula. The slowly degradable fraction (b) of DM, CP, NDF (P<0.01) and ADF (P<0.05) and potential degradability (a+b) of DM, NDF, ADF (P<0.01) and CP (P<0.05) were higher in maize stover based complete ration (T1) when compared to others. The coefficients of effective degradability (ED) of CP, NDF (P<0.05) and ADF (P<0.01) were higher in T1 compared to other complete rations. However, the ED (%) of DM was higher in T1 compared to other rations but the differences were not statistically significant. Hence, it is concluded that maize stover based complete ration was better utilized in sacco in terms of protein and fibre as compared to other crop residue based complete rations.