EFFECT OF FIBROUS DIETS ON FEEDING PATTERN, DIGESTIBILITY AND PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS IN CATTLE AND BUFFALO

The relative feed intake pattern, nutrient digestion and other related physiological parameters were studied in young male cattle (193 kg) a nd buffaloes (196 kg) by feeding wheat straw-groundnut-cake diet (9-10 % CP) and sole berseem hay (11.5% CP). Buffaloes ate relatively less ( P<0.05) dry matter per unit metabolic body size than cattle. Irrespect ive of the test diets, the average meal size on DM basis was consisten tly lower for buffaloes (69-71 g) than for cattle (72-83 g/hr/100 kg b ody weight). Further, buffaloes consumed lesser (34%) feed dry matter (wheat straw-groundnut-cake) up to first 4 hr feeding than cattle (37. 2%) indicating subsequent ingestion of larger portion of diet. However , with a change in dietary regime (berseem hay), a relatively higher p roportion of offered feed dry matter (47% in buffaloes and 63% in catt le) was eaten by these ruminant species up to first 3 hr feeding. Such changes may be ascribed to differences in fibrous components of these two test diets. The digestion of leed nutrient exceeded (P<0.01) in b uffaloes than in cattle fed low-grade roughage. The related physiologi cal parameters (blood urea and dietary regimes, though rectal temperat ure and pulse rate were lower (P<0.05) in buffaloes vis-a-vis cattle f ed berseem hay. The results inferred that earing pattern is governed b y ruminant species and fibrous components of diet.