17 M. Saadullah Z. M. Iqbal M. Imran M. N. Haque Hifzulrahman J. A. Bhatti M. Abdullah1 Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JAPS 20202020/03/25 30 3 603-611 1018-7081 https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2020.3.0071 <p>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 &plusmn; 20 [Mean &plusmn; standard deviation (SD)] days in pregnancy with (BW=516&plusmn; 57 KG, BCS (1-5) =3.98&plusmn; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;t require more than 0.5% of BW concentrate along with 2.0% of BW green fodder DM during post 150 days of pregnancy.</p> Buffalo, concentrate, lactation, Nili Ravi, reproduction, Steaming-up Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=AS-19-0104