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Matching Livestock Systems with Available Resources |
MEKARN Regional Conference 2007 |
in swamp buffaloes
The experiment was arranged in a 4*4 Latin square design with 4 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments were: C: control, rice straw ad libitum (no supplementation), CH: rice straw ad libitum + supplementation of cassava hay at 1 kg/hd/d, CO: rice straw ad libitum + supplementation of coconut oil at 2 ml/kg of BW. CH+CO: rice straw ad libitum + cassava hay at 1 kg/hd/d + coconut oil at 2 ml/kg of BW. Four male of swamp buffaloes of 252±6.13 kg live weight were used in the trial.
The results show that supplementation of CH or CH+CO significantly increased (p<0.05) NH3-N and BUN concentration. The pH, and VFA concentration was not significantly different among treatments, but VFAs tended to increase when supplemented with CH or CH+CO. Supplementation of CO significantly reduced (p<0.05) protozoa population in the rumen. However, total DM intake was highest (p<0.05) with supplementation with CH (8.4 kg/d) followed by CH+CO (8.2 kg/d) and supplementation of CO or without supplementation (6.8 and 6.2 kg/day, respectively). The digestion coefficients for DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF were highest (p<0.05) with supplementation with CH (58.4, 59.8, 61.0, 53.4 and 60.7%, respectively) as compared to supplemented with coconut oil and no supplementation (p<0.05).
The results obtained from this study lead to the conclusion that supplementation affected rumen ecology, diet digestibility and feed intake in swamp buffaloes. Especially when supplemented with CH or CH+CO were improved rumen ecology and digestibility. Supplementation of CO significantly decreased roughage intake perhaps due to reduced numbers of protozoa.