Effects of varying levels of protein supplement on voluntary intake, nutrient utilization and water metabolism in buffalo bullocks fed wheat-straw asbasal ration

Murrah bullocks (12; 63 months, 400kg) divided into 3 groups of 4 each were offered wheat straw ad lib. Deoiled (solvent extracted) groundnut-cake was supplemented @ 0.5, 1.5 and 2.25kg, respectively, in treatments 1, 2 and 3 . The total crude protein contents of the 3 dietary treatments were about 5 , 9 and 12% respectively. Average dry matter intake (9.2, 10.2 10.1kg, in g roups 1, 2 and 3) increased with the increase of groundnut-cake in the diet . Apparent digestibilities (per cent) in groups 1, 2 and 3 were estimated f or DM (52.7, 56.0, 60.2), OM (53.5, 57.3, 61.5), CP (46.7, 67.5, 74.6), CF (59.5, 59.2, 61.1), EE (35.5, 56.7, 58.7), and NFE (49.4, 53.4, 58.4). DCP and TDN of the 3 rations were calculated to be 2.4 and 47.5, 6.1 and 51.3 a nd 9.0 and 55.6, respectively, in groups 1,2 and 3. In groups 1,2 and 3, th e values (litres) for water drunk (27.6, 29.8, 30.6), feed water (0.5, 0.5, 0.5), metabolic water (2.6, 3.0, 3.2), and losses through faeces (16.6, 19 .4, 16.3) and urine (5.2, 6.8, 8.1) indicated that evaporative loss of wate r (8.99, 7.09, 9.92) was not significantly different among the 3 treatment groups. Consequently, voluntary intake and nutrient utilization on a poor q uality diet like wheat straw may be improved by increasing the protein cont ent of the diet with protein supplements.