Effect of protein and energy supplementation on the dry matter intake in river buffaloes

Four male river buffaloes with an average liveweight of 425 kg were housed in a stall with a concrete floor in individual pens, according to a replica ted Latin square design, with two treatments, to assess the effect of suppl ementation on dry matter consumption One ration was based on king grass for age and mineral salts (T-1) and the other-similar ration was supplemented w ith 2 kg of a concentrate (T-2) containing a protein-energy concentration o f 14.6% of CP and 11 MJ of ME/kg of DM. Forage was supplied ad libitum twic e daily (9 a.m. and 1 p.m.) and one hour later 1 kg of concentrate was supp lied. Daily forage intake and consumption rate were controlled during eight hours after their supply and total dry matter intake was estimated as well as the forage dry matter intake. Daily forage intake did not differ betwee n treatments (10.8 and 10.5 kg DB/animal/day), but dry matter consumption i ncreased (P < 0.05) in buffaloes receiving the supplement in the ration. Th e rate of forage consumption decreased by 0.7 kg/hr in supplemented animals after the first hour, but it remained very similar to unsupplemented buffa loes in the rest of the daily period. It is suggested that supplementation of rations based on medium quality forage does not significantly affect for age consumption, but it increases total dry matter consumption in river buf faloes.