Effect of feeding bypass protein with and without biopromotors on milk production, and certain rumen and blood metabolites in lactating Murrah buffaloes

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of feeding bypass protein with or without biopromotors on milk production and certain rumen and blood metabolites in 25 lactating Murrah buffaloes. The animals were randomly di vided into 5 groups of 5 each on the basis of nearness in body weight, lact ation length and daily milk yield following a completely randomized design. The experiment was carried out for a period of 90 days. The animals in con trol group (T-1) were fed conventional concentrate mixture as per their req uirement. In group T-2, 10 g biopromotors (consisting of live yeast culture ) were fed with the concentrate mixture of T-1. In group T-3, animals were fed 50% conventional concentrate mixture to that of T-1 and the remaining p rotein requirement was met by supplementing the ration with the whole conce ntrate treated with formaldehyde. In group T-4, animals were fed as in T-3 along with 10 g biopromotors. In group T-5, animals were fed 200 g commerci ally available mixture of bypass protein and biopromotors (containing Sacch aromyces cerevisae 1.4 x 10(9)m cfu along with growth medium 10g, niacin 1 g, selenium 2.5 g and full fat soya protected bypass protein 188.75 g) and the remaining protein requirement was mel through conventional concentrate mixture of control diet (T-1). All the experimental buffaloes were offered green jowar and wheat straw to meet their total DM and energy requirement. An increase (P<0.01) in milk and FCM yield was found in all the treatment g roups than in T-1. Rumen pH was almost unaffected due to treatments but vol atile fatty acid concentration was significantly (P<0.01) higher in protect ed protein fed groups than in T-1. Significantly (P<0.01) higher protozoal and bacterial counts were observed in treated groups than in T-1. Levels of biogenic amines like tryptamine and tyramine in rumen liquor and blood in treated groups were significantly (P<0.05) lower than in T-1. However, rumi nal histamine concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T-2, T-3 a nd T-4. On the contrary, circulating histamine concentration was significan tly (P<0.05) lower in T-2, T-3 and T-4 than in control. The concentration o f total-N, ammonia-N, NPN and TCA-N in the rumen was significantly (P<0.01) lower in T-2, T-3 and T-4 than that in T-1. The average plasma glucose and protein levels of experimental animals did not differ significantly under the various dietary treatments. However, plasma urea and ammonia nitrogen l evels of animals in groups fed protected protein was significantly (P<0.01) lower than that in T-1. Replacement of conventional concentrate mixture wi th bypass feed and addition of biopromotors are slightly beneficial in lact ating buffaloes (yielding below 8 kg milk) as they increased milk productio n and fat percentage marginally.