Comparative feed ingestibility and digestibility in cattle and buffaloes

摘要

Ingestibility and digestibility of three types of feeds, alfalfa half-silage (first growth, flowering stage), corn silage (waxy stage) and wheat straw, were investigated comparatively in growing cattle and buffaloes. The investigations used 4 Simmenthal steers aged 18 months and 4 young buffaloes (Bubalus indicus) aged 24 months, weighing in average 430 and 340 kg respectively. During the first phase of the study, the two silages were fed "ad libitum" as monodiets ; during the second phase, a concentrate feed was added to silages in order to balance the diets as energy and protein. The concentrate feed was 35 % corn for the alfalfa half-silage for both cattle and buffaloes and a mixture of corn, peas and sunflower meal (23 % of the diet) for the corn silage for both species.