A Comparative Study on the Effect of Cassava Hay Supplementation in Swamp Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and Cattle (Bos indicus)

G Granum,W Toburan,M Wanapat,P Pakdee,C Wachirapakorn

doi:10.5713/ajas.2007.1389

Abstract

Twelve swamp buffaloes and Brahman cattle heifers (6 animals each) were randomly assigned to two treatments, control (grazing only) and supplementation of cassava hay (CH) at 1-kg dry matter per head per day (DM/hd/d), in a 2x2 factorial arrangement according to a cross-over design. The cassava hay contained a high level of protein (19.5% of DM) and a strategic amount of condensed tannins (4.0% of DM). As a result it was revealed that supplementation of CH at 1-kg DM/hd/d significantly (p<0.05) improved the nutrition of both swamp buffaloes and Brahman cattle in terms of DM, organic matter (OM), protein and energy intake and digestibility, ruminal NH 3 -N and rumen ecology. Supplementation significantly (p<0.05) reduced weight losses in both species and improved the health, in terms of reduced number of parasite eggs in feces (p<0.05), of both buffaloes and cattle. There tended to be a difference in term of response to CH between the two species. The DM, OM, protein intake and digestibility and total digestible energy intake tended to be higher for buffaloes as compared to cattle. Moreover, the percentage reduction of parasite eggs tended to be higher for buffaloes as compared to cattle (57.6 and 45.0%, respectively). However, there were no significant interactions between species and treatments.

Highlights

Likewise in Thailand, buffaloes and cattle are raised as an integral part of the crop production system, especially where rice is the main commodity (Chantalakana, 2001)
The use of cassava hay was successfully implemented in several ways by either direct feeding or as a protein source in concentrate mixtures (Wanapat et al, 2000ab; Hong et al, 2003; Kiyothong and Wanapat, 2004ab), as component in soybean meal and urea
Cassava hay contains a high During the last two weeks of each period all the animals level of protein (25% of DM in average) and a strategic were fed 15 g Cr2O3, mixed with 15-g amount of condensed tannins (4% of DM in average) rice bran, to estimate the total feces production of each according to Wanapat et al (1997)

Summary

Introduction

Likewise in Thailand, buffaloes and cattle are raised as an integral part of the crop production system, especially where rice is the main commodity (Chantalakana, 2001). Cassava hay contains a high During the last two weeks of each period all the animals level of protein (25% of DM in average) and a strategic were fed 15 g Cr2O3 (an external marker), mixed with 15-g amount of condensed tannins (4% of DM in average) rice bran, to estimate the total feces production of each according to Wanapat et al (1997).

Results

Conclusion