Manuscript Abstract

EFFECT OF STEAMING-UP PRIMIPAROUS NILI RAVI BUFFALOES ON SUBSEQUENT PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE
M. Saadullah, Z. M. Iqbal, M. Imran, M. N. Haque, Hifzulrahman, J. A. Bhatti, M. Abdullah1

1Department of Livestock Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore; 2Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur; 3 KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Narowal, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore; 4Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore; 5College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore

Corresponding Author: mabdullah@uvas.edu.pk
Page Number(s): 603-611
Published Online First: March 25, 2020
Publication Date: March 25, 2020
ABSTRACT

Improved feeding during pre-calving phase affects the Body Condition Score (BCS) that subsequently dictate the post-calving productive and reproductive performance. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of three levels of concentrate supplementation [0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of body weight (BW)] during pre-calving period on post-calving reproductive and lactation performance in Nili Ravi buffalo heifers. Twenty-six pregnant Nili-Ravi buffalo heifers at 150 ± 20 [Mean ± standard deviation (SD)] days in pregnancy with (BW=516± 57 KG, BCS (1-5) =3.98± 0.18) were selected and divided into three treatment groups; Low (n=8), Medium (n=9) and High (n=9) and allocated three dietary treatments. The treatments were basal diets composed of green fodder [dry matter (DM) = 2.0% of body weight (BW)] with three levels of Concentrates (CP=20.9 %, ME= 2.62 Mcal/kg) i.e. 0.5 (Low), 1.0 (Medium), and 1.5% (High) of the BW. The animals received same feed (forage DM at the rate of 2% of BW and concentrate at 0.5 kg per liter of milk produced on as fed basis) after calving. Increasing concentrate supplies from 0.5 to 1.5% of BW increased pre-calving dry matter intake (DMI), however, it didn’t affect BW and BCS at calving. Increased concentrate supply at 1.5% of BW resulted in decrease in post calving conception rate to 33% as compared to 75 and 77.8% at 0.5 and 1.0% of BW concentrate supply. The treatment High decreased lactation length (15%) and yield (17%) as compared to Low and Medium treatment. Pre-calving supplementation of concentrate beyond 0.5% of BW showed no improvement of post-calving productive and reproductive performance. In the given dietary situation, the Nili Ravi heifers didn’t require more than 0.5% of BW concentrate along with 2.0% of BW green fodder DM during post 150 days of pregnancy.

Keywords: Buffalo, concentrate, lactation, Nili Ravi, reproduction, Steaming-up
Open Access: This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).


Download Statistics
This Manuscript
Full Text
10
downloads
Citations
Scopus1OpenAlex1Semantic Scholar1OpenCitations1
Scopus
1
OpenAlex
1
Semantic Scholar
1
OpenCitations
1
Indicators
Metrics

Cite Score: 1.3

JCR Year: 2025

Indexing
Status

Web of Science (SCIE)

SCOPUS (Q3)

Journal Metrics
Current

Journal Impact Factor: 0.5

HEC Category: W

ISSN Details
Verified

Print ISSN: 1018-7081

Electronic ISSN: 2309-8694

Search the Journal

Use the fields below to search for articles by Title, Author, or Keywords.

All Downloads
Full Text
21,470
downloads
Supplementary
40
downloads