Feeding system vis-a-vis nutrients supply to lactating buffaloes in its native breeding tract.

摘要

A survey of existing feeding practices in certain villages in Hisar district involving a total of 243 farmers and 635 milch buffaloes was carried out. About 17% of the buffaloes with daily milk yield of 2-4 kg (category I) belonged to landless labourers. They were not given any concentrate mixture except 1 kg of wheat flour mixed with straw at the time of feeding and were free to graze for most of the day. 51% were medium-yielding buffaloes with daily milk yield of 5-9 kg (category II) which belonged to small and marginal farmers. Cottonseed cake 2-4 kg (CSC) was the only feed offered to these buffaloes daily. Buffaloes in category III (32%) with daily milk yield of 10-14 kg, belonged to medium and rich farmers. Buffalo owners in category III werebetter at formulating diets as they fed bajra/wheat 1-2 kg, cottonseed 1-2 kg along with CSC 3-4 kg daily to their milch buffaloes. Feeding methi (fenugreek) or gur (jaggery) in limited quantities during early lactation was part of the traditional feeding practice. Supply of green fodder was adequate (15-25 kg daily) in at least the first 2 months of rabi and kharif seasons, respectively, decreasing to 5-10 kg daily for the rest of the period. The shortfall in the supply of nutrients like protein and energy was not significant, but an analysis of the mineral content of feed and fodder samples showed that milch buffaloes were getting only 50% of the zinc and manganese, and three times the copper, required daily, according to National Research Council recommendations.