Nutrient utilization by Murrah buffaloes ( Bubalus bubalis) as influenced by varying levels of urea molasses mineral block on wheat straw based diets

Abstract

To ascertain the optimum intake of urea molasses mineral block (UMMB) as a supplement on wheat straw based diets, twelve adult male Murrah buffaloes ( Bubalus bubalis) (390±9.0 kg; 4 y) were assigned to three equal groups in a completely randomized design. To minimize individual diurnal variation, the animals on Diets 1, 2 and 3 were fed fixed quantity of UMMB at the level of 400, 600 and 800 g, dissolved in 1000 ml of water and mixed manually with 5600 g chaffed wheat straw uniformly, for a preliminary period of 21 days followed by a metabolism trial of seven days duration. An increased ( P<0.05) intake of crude protein and decreased intake of ether extract, acid detergent fibre (ADF), cellulose (g day −1), dry matter and total digestible nutrients (TDN) per unit metabolic body size (kg W 0.75) were observed on 800 g UMMB as compared to similar intake on other diets. The animals from all the three treatments digested most of the nutrients to a similar extent, except dry matter and organic matter, the digestibility of which was depressed on feeding 800 g UMMB daily. Inspite of significantly ( P<0.05) lower digestible intake of ADF and cellulose in animals offered 800 g UMMB, their digestibility were comparable among the diets. All the animals were, though, in positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance, animals fed 800 g UMMB daily lost body weight probably due to the insufficient energy supply. Since supplementation of UMMB at 400 and 600 g levels exhibited similar results and it's inclusion beyond that had no beneficial effect, it can be concluded that a level of 400 g UMMB seems to be optimum to maximize utilization of nutrients from wheat straw based diets to meet maintenance requirements of adult male buffaloes.