Plasma Hormones and Milk Production Performances in Early Lactation Buffaloes Supplemented with a Mixture of Prilled Fat, Sweetener and Toxin Binder

The effect of combined feed supplements (prilled fat, sweetener and toxin binder) was studied on 24 apparently healthy early lactating rural and urban maintained Murrah buffaloes. The feeding of combined feed supplement was carried out for a period of 90 days. DMI, BCS, body weight were recorded at fortnightly intervals and milk composition was analyzed at weekly intervals. Blood samples were analyzed for hormones, plasma metabolites and lipid profile. The supplementation increased (p<0.01) milk yield by 13.6 and 17.0% in urban and rural Murrah buffaloes with respective increases of 20.14 and14.98% in milk fat (p<0.01). BCS and DMI varied non-significantly (P>0.05) between the groups. Body weight increased in rural buffaloes in comparison to urban buffaloes. Plasma GH was higher (p<0.05) before supplementation and fluctuated non-significantly (P>0.05) during supplementation period. Mean leptin levels decreased (p<0.05) while plasma estradiol and IgG level increased during the supplementation period. Plasma progesterone and ghrelin level varied non-significantly before and during supplementation. Plasma IGF-1 and glucose levels was more and NEFA level was lower (p<0.05) during the experiment. Mean HDL, triglyceride and cholesterol concentration increased (P<0.05) during supplementation than before supplementation. Blood urea nitrogen and plasma urea level was lower before feeding and increased during the experiment. The conception rate was more and service period was less (P<0.05) in urban buffaloes as compared to rural buffaloes. The complete feed supplementation was highly economical and generated an additional income of Rs. 114.45/day/buffalo with cost benefit ratio of 1:5. It was concluded that complete feed comprising of prilled fat, sweetener and toxin binder augment overall productive performance of rural and urban buffaloes. Shabab Khan et al. 16