Effect of protein in complete diets on rumen metabolism in buffaloes

Two diets (D-1 and D-2) were fed ad Eib. to 3 permanently fistulated buffal o calves in a latin square design. D-1 consisted of paddy straw 37, green 3 , molasses 10, deoiled rice bran 41, deoiled mustard-cake (DMC) 6, mineral mixture 2 and common salt 1 kg/100kg and D-2 has deoiled rice bran 39.8, de oiled undecorticated cottonseed-cake (DUCSC) 7, and urea was 0.2 kg/100 kg and the remaining ingredients were similar to D-1. The concentration of var ious ruminal nitrogen fractions were comparable for both the diets except n on- protein nitrogen which was higher on D-1 than that on D-2. pH of rumen liquor was higher in D-2 diet compared to D-1. TVFA and all nitrogen fracti ons peaked at 4hr post-feeding. DM disappearance was higher for D-2 compare d to D-1, indicating the increased solubility and degradability of diet D-2 .