Effect of varying levels of bypass fat on digestibilities of nutrients and balances of N, P and Ca in lactating Jaffrabadi buffaloes

Lactating Jaffrabadi buffaloes (24; first to fourth lactation and average body weight 650.0 kg) were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each as per completely randomized design and allocated to 4 dietary treatments as T1,T2, T3 and T4. Experimental buffaloes were offered commercial concentrate mixture and cotton seed cake in equal proportion (50:50) to fulfil the protein requirements as per ICAR (1998) along with the basal diet of 10 kg seasonal green and mature pasture grass hay ad lib. Commercial bypass fat was provided to all experimental buffaloes at the rate of 150g per animal for first 15 days prior to parturition and at the rate of 0, 10g, 20g and 30g /kg milk yield in T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups, respectively post partum. DMI, Per cent DMI and DMI/kg W0.75 of lactating buffaloes remained non significant among different treatment groups during entire experiment. Lactating buffaloes also showed non-significant differences in body weight and biometry during different phases of experiment. Differences in water intake (l/day, l/100kg B.W., l/kg W0.75 and l/kg DMI) by different levels of bypass fat supplementation were also non significant. Digestibility of the rations for DM, OM, CP, EE, CF and NFE were not significantly affected by addition of supplemental fat. Nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium balances were positive and non significant among different treatment groups. Plane of nutrition as per ICAR nutritional requirements for Indian buffaloes was comparable among different dietary treatments. Overall results indicates that bypass fat supplementation has positive but non significant effect on nutrient utilization in different groups

Influence of peripartum dietary supplementation of choline and fat in protected form on production performance of Gir cows

In this experiment, the effects of supplementing choline and fat in rumen protected form during peripartum period on feed intake, milk production and composition of Gir cows were studied. Twenty four Gir cows of 1st to 3rd parity were used from 30 days pre-partum through 60 days post-partum and randomly assigned to four equal treatment groups (n=6) on the basis of their parity, body weight and previous lactation yield. Control diet was fed to cows in group T1 (control). Additionally, rumen protected choline (RPC) @45 g/d in group T2; rumen protected fat (RPF) 80 g/d in group T3 and RPC @45 g/d + RPF @80 g/d in group T4 were supplemented along with control diet. The treatments significantly affected dry mater intake (DMI) and milk production of cows. DMI was increased in the cows fed with RPC as compared to control. Milk yield, 4% fat-corrected milk, solid-corrected milk and energy- corrected milk were higher in the cows fed with RPC and RPF alone or in combination, as compared to control. No synergistic effect was observed with these supplements on DMI or milk production. None of these supplements influenced the milk composition significantly, however yield of milk fat, protein and lactose were higher in all the nutrient supplemented cows compared to control. Net return over feed cost was higher in supplemented cows compared to control. Results indicated that supplementation of RPC or RPF can improve feed intake and productive performance of Gir cows for overall economic benefits

Roofing tile clays of India: physico-chemical characteristics for their selection

Thc common clays, namely blue clay and yellow clay from Kerala and red clay and black clay from Morbi, Gujarat have been selected for studying their physico-chemical properties which involve chemical analysis, plasticity test, particle size analysis, X-ray diflractometry, drying and firing characteristics, rational analysis etc. The results indicate that for both regions, it is not possible to make tiles or other products by using one type of clay alone. A combination of both the clays available in the same region can impart appropriate properties conducive to satisfactory production

Materials and Methods Inclusion of different exogenous fibrolytic enzymes to dry jowar fodder and their effect on in vitro total gas production

Abstract Aim: Our objective was to estimate in-vitro gas production from dry jowar fodder added with different concentrations of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFEs) like neutral cellulase and fungal xylanase. Materials and Methods: 34 different samples of dry jowar fodder were prepared according to different concentrations of neutral cellulase, fungal xylanase and neutral cellulase + fungal xylanase (1:1). Sample not containing any enzymes was considered as the control group. These 34 samples were subjected to further in vitro gas production analysis. Results: Statistically, significantly higher (P<0.05) potential gas production was recorded for 0.7 % at 6 hr period, 0.7 % at 12 hr period, 0.7 %, 0.8 % at 18 hr period and 0.7 %, 0.8 % at 24 hr period in the samples treated with neutral cellulase. Significantly higher potential gas production was recorded for 0.5 %, 0.8 % at 6 hr period, 0.5 %, 0.6 %, 0.8 % at 12 hr period, 0.8 % at 18 hr period and 0.5 %, 0.6 %, 0.8 % at 24 hr period in the samples treated with fungal xylanase. Significantly higher potential gas production was recorded for 0.6 %, 0.6 %, 0.8 % at 6 hr period, 0.6 %, 0.8 % at 12 hr period, 0.6 %, 0.8 % at 18 hr period and 0.6 %, 0.8 % at 24 hr period in the samples treated with mixture of neutral cellulase + fungal xylanase (1:1). Conclusion: Addition of neutral cellulase and fungal xylanase into the samples of dry jowar fodder increased in vitro total potential gas production. EFEs increase substrate degradation and there by improve the nutritive value of dry jowar fodder