Effect of Dietary Cation Anion Difference on Buffalo Performance during Summer

Abstract

Influence of -110, +110, +220 and +330 mEq/kg dry matter (DM) of dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) on performance of early lactating Nili Ravi buffaloes was examined in a randomized complete block design during summer. Four DCAD levels were randomly allotted to four groups, three buffaloes in each group. A linear increase in nutrients and water intakes were recorded with increasing the DCAD level. A significant increase in blood pH and HCO3 was noticed with increasing DCAD level. Serum (Na + K) - (Cl + S) increased linearly with increasing the DCAD level while high serum chloride was noticed in buffaloes fed -110 DCAD diet. The serum calcium increased significantly with decreasing the DCAD level while serum magnesium and phosphorus remained unaffected. Urine pH increased significantly with increasing DCAD level. Higher serum cortisol was notices in buffaloes fed -110 than those fed +330 mEq/kg. A linear increase in milk yield was also noticed with increasing the DCAD level. Milk fat% increased significantly with increasing the DCAD while all other milk constituents remained unaltered. Buffaloes fed high DCAD diets had higher conception rate and less services per conception than those fed low DCAD diets.