Effects of shortened dry period on the physical indicators of energy reserves mobilization in high yielding Murrah buffaloes

摘要

The aim of the study was to investigate the physical indicators of energy reserves mobilization (ERM) viz., Body weight (BW), Body Condition Score (BCS), altered BW percentage (ABWP) and altered BCS percentage (ABCSP) levels in forty eight dairy buffaloes allotted to three dry period lengths (60 or 60d; 46 to 60 d; and 30 to 45 d). Hybrid Napier and paddy straw, used as roughage, were supplied together with concentrate mixture; and the buffaloes were fed individually according to their requirements. The mean body weights of the group I, II and III buffaloes were 549.41 +/- 4.36, 597.97 +/- 6.20, and 584.54 +/- 3.84, respectively. The BW, BCS, ABWP, and ABCSP levels were influenced by length of dry period, as well as pre and postpartum periods of the entire experimental study. The BW (kg) and BCS showed an increasing (P0.01) trend from the day of drying to calving with highest (P0.05) ABWP and ABCSP in traditional dry period group compared to shortened dry periods. Subsequently, the BW and BCS showed a decreasing trend (P0.01) from calving to 90 days postpartum with highest (P0.05) decrease of ABWP and ABCSP in group I. Further, 6% Fat corrected milk (FCM) production had a negative significant (P0.01) correlation with BCS at 30d postpartum, followed by positive (P0.05) correlation with BCS and BW at 60 or 90 d postpartum.