FEED INTAKE, WEIGHT GAIN AND HAEMATOLOGY IN NILI-RAVI
BUFFALO
HEIFERS FED ON MOTT GRASS AND BERSEEM FODDER SUBSTITUTED WITH SALTBUSH (ATRIPLEX
AMNICOLA)
J. A. BHATTI, M. YOUNAS1, M. ABDULLAH, M. E. BABAR AND H. NAWAZ1
University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences,
Lahore;
1Faculty
of Animal Husbandry,
University
of
Agriculture,
Faisalabad,
Pakistan
Abstract
A feeding management experiment was conducted to determine the effect of Mott
grass and berseem fodder substituted with saltbush on the performance of Nili-Ravi
buffalo heifers. Fifteen buffalo heifers of 8 months age and 120 kg average
initial body weight were divided into five equal groups and fed on T1, T2, T3,
T4 and T5 having Mott (Pennisetum purpurium), Berseem (Trifolium
alexandrinum), Mott+Saltbush, Berseem+Saltbush and Mott+Berseem+Saltbush,
respectively. The experiment was completed in five phases of five weeks each.
Higher (P<0.05) mean DM contents were observed in saltbush substituted diets
(T3, T4 and T5) than T2 and T1. Crude protein (CP) contents were higher (P<0.01)
in Berseem+Saltbush and berseem alone. Ash contents were
significantly (P<0.01) higher in
saltbush containing diets as compared to Mott and Berseem alone. Mean
daily DMI was higher (P<0.01) on T2, followed by T4, T1, T5 and T3. Daily water
intake was significantly higher (P<0.01) in heifers on saltbush substituted
diets. Highest daily weight gain was observed on Berseem alone and on saltbush
combination diets but differences were non-significant (P>0.05). RBCs count was
higher (P<0.05) on T1 and T3, and lowest on T4 (berseem+saltbush). WBCs count
(P<0.05) were 9.19 ± 0.75, 9.63 ± 0.75, 9.34 ± 0.75, 8.85 ± 0.75 and 8.96 ± 0.75
× 103μl-1
on T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. Haemoglobin contents were higher
(P<0.01) in heifers on saltbush containing diets and Berseem alone. PCV was
significant (P<0.01) between treatments and higher on saltbush substituted
diets.
Buffalo
heifers performed better on berseem and saltbush diets. It is concluded that
saltbush can be incorporated in the conventional diets of Nili-Ravi buffalo
heifers up to 50% as an alternate forage source when conventional fodders are
short and their nutrient contents are low during severe winter and summer
seasons.
Key words:
Atriplex amnicola,
buffalo heifers, weight gain, DMI.