Abstract
Simple SummaryThai swamp buffalo is a domesticated swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) which has a functional significance for the livestock production system and for the economic benefit of Thailand. For instance, meat supply derived from Thai swamp buffalo is a secondary consideration in recently years. Therefore, there is mounting interest concerning the regulation of the nutrient requirements of Thai swamp buffalo to optimize their production. However, no systematic report is available on the nutrient requirements of the growing Thai swamp buffalo. This study investigates and predicts protein requirement systems that can provide an abundant energy intake and can be included in the 18–24 months old Thai swamp buffalo’s diet, as well as supply the recommended amount of net nitrogen or crude protein requirement to optimize their growth and maintenance. Protein requirement, nutrient utilization, and microorganism profile are included to corroborate the influences mentioned.In some geographical areas and in certain breeding situations, the interpretation of increased gain in the bovine is difficult to investigate. Due to their inherent genetic variations, their energy and protein needs vary as a function of inherent genetic differences, making these requirements difficult to accurately assess in bull species, e.g., Thai swamp buffalo. The study aimed at investigating and predicting protein requirement systems, by the provision of an abundant energy intake of 2.2 Mcal/kg DM for the maintenance and growth of Thai swamp buffaloes using a comparative prolonged feeding trial for 90 days. Sixteen bull Thai swamp buffaloes at the initial (Age: 18–24 months; BW: 233 ± 25.0 kg) were assigned into four treatment groups, four buffaloes each, fed 5.4, 6.6, 8.5, and 10.5% DM crude protein (CP). CP intake, BW, and physiological fluid were determined. The net CP requirements for maintenance and growth of Thai swamp buffaloes were 5.41 g CP/kg W0.75 and 0.46 g CP/g average daily gain (ADG), respectively. Our results indicated that CP requirement increases when the BW increases. An increased dietary CP resulted in increased amounts of blood urine nitrogen (N), N absorption, total volatile fatty acid, urinary purine derivative, and the microbial N. Notably, the net CP requirement for growth of Thai swamp buffalo was higher than it reported in NRC, but the maintenance was lower.
Highlights
A domesticated swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is one of economic-based strategies in tropical livestock production to supply important animal resources [1]
Our results were in agreement with Chumpawadee, et al [32] who reported that an increase in average daily gain (ADG) of Thai-indigenous yearling heifers was successfully obtained after those heifers were fed diets containing high crude protein (CP) (6.6–13.6%)
The net crude protein requirement for maintenance of Thai swamp buffaloes was lower compared to National Research Council (NRC) 2001
Summary
A domesticated swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is one of economic-based strategies in tropical livestock production to supply important animal resources [1]. Molecular and morphological evidence suggests that swamp buffalo populations have strong phenotypic uniformity and geographic genetic distinction and they have been recorded as dispersing through south-east Asia [2]. As they have a high meat production potential, multiple purposes as agricultural tools, and are well-adapted to the hot-humid tropical climate conditions, swamp buffalo are commonly domesticated in several areas in Thailand. For instance, the nutrient metabolism of water buffalo, either river buffalo or swamp buffalo (Mediterranean) has been studied for many years and the results are very detailed for growing heifers in large farms and for specialized milk production [4,5]. Since the nutrient requirements of livestock is able to be determined by inherent genetic variation and environmental factors, mounting interest has been paid to closely regulate the nutrient requirements of domesticated swamp buffalo ( Thai swamp buffalo; Figure 1) to optimize their production in Thailand
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