Effect of supplementary feeding on productive and reproductive performance of milch buffalo and feed economics under field conditions in Panchmahal district of Central Gujarat

Abstract

Average milk yield recorded during the study was period 5.42±0.43, 6.43±0.57 and 6.67±0.39 litre per day in T₁, T₂ and T₃ groups, respectively. The results indicated that the buffaloes supplemented with mineral mixture and common salt produced 23.06 per cent more milk as compared to control without any adverse affect on the body weight and health of the animals. The increase in milk yield was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the animals of supplemented group as compared to control. The results of study revealed that 16.38 per cent reduction in cost milk production per litre in buffalo were due to the supplementation of mineral mixture and common salt under of hot semi-arid ecosystem. The supplementation of mineral mixture and common salt during experimental period indicates that benefit cost ratio 1:2.24 was recorded, which appears to be very lucrative over traditional system of feeding.  Based on observations, it can be concluded that supplementary feeding of mineral mixture and common salt economically improved the milk production and reproductive performance of buffaloes under hot semi-arid ecosystem