Dr. Saba Anwar & Dr. Muhammad Naveed – ul- Haque
The buffalo is a major dairy animal in Pakistan, with the Nili Ravi breed being prominent in the regions around the Chenab and Ravi rivers of Punjab. During 10 months of lactation buffalo typically produces 2200 liters of milk, yielding 8-10 liters of milk daily. Buffalo milk is known for its richness in essential nutrients and health benefits, and its price is increasing due to high demand.
However, current production levels are insufficient to meet this demand. Buffalo milk production can be increased by adopting different feeding strategies. Optimal levels of protein, fiber, and fat should be provided in a well-balanced ratio according to the buffalo’s requirements. Exceeding specific limits of protein, fiber, or fat in the diet can result in health problems and render dairy farming economically unfeasible due to increased feeding costs.
Two experiments were conducted to determine the feeding requirements of buffaloes at the Livestock Experiment Station in Bhunikey, Pattoki. In the first experiment, sixteen buffaloes were fed 4 diets containing 2 different levels of protein and fat over a period of four months. Higher levels of protein and fat led to increased milk yield as well as fat yield. Protein feeding decreased the milk nitrogen efficiency. In the second experiment, sixteen buffaloes were fed 4 diets containing 2 levels of fiber and fat over the same duration.
Fat feeding resulted in improvements in milk fat content, fat yield, and nitrogen efficiency, while it decreased predicted methane production. From these experiments it can be concluded that high levels of protein, fat and fiber are beneficial for increasing milk production and milk contents of buffalo.
