EFFECT OF STEAMING-UP PRIMIPAROUS NILI RAVI BUFFALOES ON SUBSEQUENT PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE Authors: M. Saadullah, Z. M. Iqbal, M. Imran, M. N. Haque, Hifzulrahman, J. A. Bhatti, M. Abdullah1 Journal: Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences (JAPS) ISSN: 1018-7081 (Print), 2309-8694 (Online) Volume: 30 Issue: 3 Pages: 603-611 Year: 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2020.3.0071 URL: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2020.3.0071 Publisher: Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum 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