Bypass Fat for Buffalo – Fat Supplementation in Buffalo Feeding: Dietary Interactions with Starch Levels and Degradability of Proteins
In Pakistan, traditional buffalo feeding practices typically rely on locally available forages and agricultural by-products, with limited incorporation of fat supplements. Traditionally, farmers in Pakistan do not commonly feed fat supplements to buffaloes in a structured way. However, some traditional practices indirectly provide dietary fat to buffaloes, especially in dairy farming. Bypass fat for buffalo is effective. Research has proved that fat supplementation in buffalo feeding with other nutrients improves milk efficiency and health. It also reduces methane emission.
This article is written by Dr. Rana Yaser Arafat. This relates to his PhD research work at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore
Research on Fat Supplementation in Buffalo Feeding
Farmers sometimes mix mustard oil, cottonseed oil, or ghee into buffalo feed, believing it enhances milk production and animal health. Cottonseed cake and rape seed meal naturally contain fats and are commonly used as energy sources. However, recent studies have explored the benefits of fat supplementation, such as bypass fats, to enhance milk production and growth performance in buffaloes.
These studies indicate that while traditional diets may not commonly include added fats, integrating fat supplements can positively impact buffalo productivity.
Research on Fatty Acid Ration of Bypass Fat at Michigan State Univeristy
Research Method on Fat Supplementation in Buffalo Feeding
The current study was designed to explore the effects of bypass fat in the form of calcium salts of fatty acids (Ca-FA) along with starch and rumen undegradable proteins (RUP) in low and high levels in Dairy type Nili Ravi buffalo.
The higher levels of starch and RUP were 28 and 38 percent, whereas the lower levels were 17 and 27 percent, respectively. The study was conducted at the dairy section of the Livestock Production Research Institute Bahadurnagar, Okara, in two experiments; the first experiment employed the higher and lower levels of Ca-FA and starch, whereas the second study employed higher and lower levels of Ca-FA and RUP. The bypass fat was given to high fat feeding group at the rate of 300 gram per animal per day. The dietary treatments were fed to the animals in the form of wheat straw-based TMR and corn silage-based rations.
Results of the Research on Fat Supplementation in Buffalo Feeding
Bypass Fat for buffalo and Effects on DMI and Wight Gain
The results of the current study showed that the dry matter intake (DMI) remained unaffected of addition of bypass fat whereas it was increased when higher levels of starch were added in the ration. Although in some of the previous researches a decline in DMI was noted with the addition of bypass fat or RUP in the ration but in current study DMI was not affected. Body weight of the animals was significantly improved when the animals received bypass fat, starch and RUP.
Fat Supplementation in Buffalo Feeding and Effects on Milk Production
Milk yield was not significantly improved with bypass fat and starch feeding, whereas it was improved with RUP feeding in combination bypass fat. Milk fat content was significantly improved with bypass fat and RUP feeding. Moreover, Milk protein content was improved with RUP, whereas remained unaffected of bypass fat and starch. Milk lactose content was significantly improved with high starch and bypass fat, whereas remained unaffected with RUP.
Fat Supplementation in Buffalo and Effects on Methane Emission
Milk efficiencies were also significantly improved with bypass fat, starch, and RUP feeding. High starch feeding did was found not related with fall in p,H indicating buffalo a more resistant to pH fluctuations. Methane emission has been a constant threat to the global climate on account of livestock share to carbon foot printing.
In the current study, feeding bypass fat, starch, and RUP significantly reduced the production of methane gas indicating this feeding strategy a more climate friendly in addition to its benefits in terms of improvement in milk yield and composition.
Recommendation on Use of Bypass Fat for Buffalo Feeding
Followings are the conclusions and recommendations from the current study for dairy farmers;
- Feeding rumen bypass fat at the rate of 300 gm per animal per day is a useful strategy to enhance milk yield and milk quality in Nili Ravi dairy buffalo
- Feeding starch at the rate of 27 percent of concentrate improves milk efficiencies and milk lactose content.
- High RUP Feeding at the rate of 38 percent of concentrate mix is a useful strategy to check plasma urea nitrogen that improves metabolic profile and decrease ill health consequences on account of high plasma urea nitrogen.
