Nutrient Utilization in Buffalo Bulls Fed Crop Residue Based Complete Rations Supplemented With or Without Yeast Culture

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of feeding crop residue based complete rations supplemented with and without live yeast culture on nutrient utilization in buffalo bulls. In 4 x 4 LSD, four graded Murrah buffalo bulls (6 years; 330.7±30.63 kg) were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments viz., maize stover based complete ration (T1), T1 supplemented with yeast culture (T2), jowar stover based complete rations (T3) and T3 supplemented with yeast culture (T4). The complete rations were prepared by mixing maize or jowar stover and concentrate mixture in 60:40 proportions. The live yeast culture containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 6 x 1010 cfu/g was supplemented at the recommended level of 10 g/animal/day. Results revealed that the dry matter intake expressed as kg/d or as % of BW was similar among the four dietary treatments. The digestibility co-efficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemi-cellulose, cellulose (P<0.01) and nitrogen-free extract (P<0.05) were higher in T2 when compared to others. All the buffalo bulls were in positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance. The digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrient content expressed as % in the diet consumed or kg/d was higher (P<0.01) in T2 as compared to other treatments. Thus, it is concluded that the performance of animals was better on maize stover based complete ration supplemented with live yeast culture (T2) as evidenced by higher plane of nutrition.