R. Gupta et al., EFFECT OF PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTATION AND DEFAUNATION ON THE GROWTH-RATE OF YOUNG BUFFALO HEIFERS, Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 63(2), 1993, pp. 179-183
Buffalo heifers (24), 12-14 months old were divided into 2 groups (12
each) as defaunated and faunated animals. Each defaunated and faunated
group was further divided into 3 groups having 4 animals in each grou
p. In the control 4% urea-treated W.S. was fed ad lib. and in the othe
r 2 groups, this fermented wheat straw was supplemented with 500 g cot
tonseed-cake (T-1) and 750 g cottonseed-cake (T-2) groups. These 3 tre
atments were repeated also in the defaunated groups. Defaunation was d
one with 300 g ground Entrolobium timoba leaves. After a 42 days study
, a significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight gain was obtained in the
defaunated group fed heifers as compared to faunated group. The volun
tary DM intake on kg/100 kg BW basis was higher in the faunated group
than in defaunated group. The rumen ammonia-N (mg/100 ml) was higher i
n faunated group as compared to defaunated groups. The concentration o
f total VFA (m eq/100 ml) in the rumen liquor was slightly higher in d
efaunated group than in faunated group heifers. The effect of suppleme
ntation of protein as cotton seed was significant. At the and of every
fortnight the rumen liquor samples were collected for checking re-occ
urrance of protozoa. Up to 6 weeks, them was no appearance of protozoa
in the defaunated group. It was inferred that Entrolobium timoba leav
es (300g) may prove a beneficial defaunating agent resulting in econom
ical raising of growing buffalo heifers under farmers' conditions, the
Indian farmers can grow this plant successfully under field condition
s.