EFFECT OF PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTATION AND DEFAUNATION ON THE GROWTH-RATE OF YOUNG BUFFALO HEIFERS

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.