RT Journal T1 EFFECT OF STEAMING-UP PRIMIPAROUS NILI RAVI BUFFALOES ON SUBSEQUENT PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE A1 M. Saadullah A1 Z. M. Iqbal A1 M. Imran A1 M. N. Haque A1 Hifzulrahman A1 J. A. Bhatti A1 M. Abdullah1 JF Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JO JAPS SN 1018-7081 VO 30 IS 3 SP 603 OP 611 YR 2020 FD 2020/03/25 DO DOI https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2020.3.0071 AB

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.

K1 Buffalo, concentrate, lactation, Nili Ravi, reproduction, Steaming-up PB Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum LK https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=AS-19-0104