Abstract

Four rumen fistulated buffalo bulls (361.43 ± 29.41 kg) were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design experiment to evaluate the effect of EFE supplementation in TMRs containing different R:C ratios on ruminal fermentation. The bulls were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments viz., TMR with R:C ratio of 60:40 (T 1 ), T 1 supplemented with EFE @ 15 g/animal/day (T 2 ), TMR with R:C of 70:30 ratio (T 3 ) and T 3 supplemented with EFE @ 15 g/animal/day (T 4 ). The present study indicated that rumen pH was lower (P < 0.01) while the concentration of TVFA, NH 3 -N and N fractions were higher (P < 0.01) in T 1 when compared to T 3 . Further, supplementation of EFE in TMRs irrespective of R:C ratio decreased (P < 0.01) rumen pH and increased (P < 0.01) the concentrations of TVFA, NH 3 -N and N fractions in buffalo bulls. The rumen pH values were highest at 0 h and declined to minimum 4 h post feeding while TVFA, NH 3 -N, and N fractions reached peak at 4 h post feeding and later followed a decreasing trend in all the treatments. The results revealed improved rumen fermentation pattern with supplementation of EFE in TMRs irrespective of the R:C ratio.

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