Partial Replacment of Yellow Maize Grains by Sun-Dried Orange Pulp in Summer Rations of Lactating Buffalo

Bakr, Mohammed H; M. Allam, Sabbah; Elsabaawy, Eman; Al-Adawy, Ebtehal Habib; Hekal, Fatma Abou-Hashim

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2024.298859.2189

Partial Replacment of Yellow Maize Grains by Sun-Dried Orange Pulp in Summer Rations of Lactating Buffalo

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University,12613 Giza, Egypt

² Animal Production Department, Agricultural and Biological Research Institute, National Research Centre, 12622, Cairo, Egypt.

10.21608/ejvs.2024.298859.2189

Abstract

To study the partial replacement of yellow maize grains (YMG) with sun- dried orange pulp (SDOP) during the summer months , 27 Egyptian lactating buffaloes (body weight : 600 ± 50 kg; parity: 1^st to 4^th ) were allotted randomly to 3 experimental groups. Investigations were done on specific blood parameters, feed consumption, nutrient digestibility, milk composition and yield, feed and economic efficiency. Sun-dried orange pulp replaced YMG at 0 Control (R1), 30%SDOP (R2), and 60% SDOP (R3). Comparing to Control, the dry matter intake (DMI) in 30%SDOP and 60%SDOP was decreased by 0.63 and 0.83 kg, respectively. Raising the replacement level of SDOP led to an enhancement in the digestibility of crude fiber (CF; P ˂ 0.05), while the rest of nutrients remained unchanged except for crude protein (CP) and digestible CP, which dramatically reduced. Statistically, no significant variations were observed across all blood parameters analyzed (P > 0.05). Concerning fat-corrected milk (FCM) and daily milk yield (DMY), no significant changes (P > 0.05) were observed, however. Compared to Control, the cost of concentrate feed mixture (CFM; LE/kg) was lower by 6.6% and 13.17%, meanwhile, feed effeciency was improved by 16.67 and 4.17% in 30% SDOP and 60% SDOP, respectively, which was strongly reflected in reducing feeding cost to produce 1 kg of milk and enhancing feed and economic efficiency. The results of the study imply that feed producers and ruminant holders may be able to reduce feeding expenses without affecting neither animal welfare nor performance in a way that is still profitable. Moreover, Egyptian buffalo is ideal for Egypt's summer climate.

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