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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effect of feeding a balanced ration on milk production, microbial nitrogen supply and methane emissions in field animals

M. R. Garg A B , P. L. Sherasia A , B. T. Phondba A and S. A. Hossain A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Animal Nutrition Group, National Dairy Development Board, Anand-388001, Gujarat, India.

B Corresponding author. Email: mrgarg@nddb.coop

Animal Production Science 54(10) 1657-1661 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14163
Submitted: 7 March 2014  Accepted: 18 June 2014   Published: 19 August 2014

Abstract

Dairy animals in developing countries produce more methane (CH4), primarily on account of feed rations imbalanced in nutrients. A field study on early lactating cows (n = 80) and buffaloes (n = 82) was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding a balanced ration on milk production, microbial nitrogen (N) supply and CH4 emissions in different agroclimatic regions of India. CH4 emissions was measured using the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique, before and after feeding a balanced ration. Feeding practices revealed that intake of protein was adequate in the ration of experimental animals in most of the regions, except for the buffaloes of the western region. Metabolisable energy (MJ/cow.day) intake was higher by 7.6% and 13.6% in cows of western and northern regions, respectively. In buffaloes, energy intake (MJ metabolisable energy/buffalo.day) was higher by 11.5% in the western region but lower by 17.7% in the central region. Average calcium intake was deficient by 23.5% and 35.1%, whereas phosphorus intake was deficient by 33.2% and 56.2% in cows and buffaloes, respectively. Feeding a balanced ration increased (P < 0.05) average daily milk production by 6.7% and 7.6%, whereas cost of production decreased by 13.7% and 9.9% in cows and buffaloes, respectively. Fat-corrected milk increased from 9.1 to 9.8 kg/cow.day and from 6.9 to 7.7 kg/buffalo.day. Intestinal flow of microbial N improved significantly by 25.5% and 26.7% in cows and buffaloes, respectively. Balanced feeding reduced CH4 emissions (g/kg milk yield) by 17.3% (P < 0.05) in cows and 19.5% (P < 0.01) in buffaloes. The present study indicates that feeding a balanced ration improves milk production and microbial N supply, and reduces CH4 emissions in field animals.

Additional keywords: environment, productivity, ration balancing, ruminants.


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