| Dissertation note |
The cost of feed, as percentage of total production costs, accounts for about 5 0-60% of ruminant feeding systems. According to estimates, Pakistan is deficient by 40 and 80 percent in forage and concentrate feeds. For economical production of balanced feed for livestock, poultry, fish and pet animal, non-conventional feed resources need to be explored to find solution to the existing gaps. For this purpose the present study was conducted to determine the nutritional profile, processing and utilization of rumen contents in buffalo feed. The study was conducted in three phases. In phase one, bovine rumen contents were collected from the slaughter house near Bakar Mandi and were analyzed at Nutrition laboratory, UVAS, Lahore. In phase two, rumen contents were ensiled with wheat straw, with and without addition of 5% molasses for a period of 60 days at Ravi Campus, Pattoki. Proportion of rumen contents and wheat straw were 1:1 on DM basis. Wheat straw was also treated alone by reducing its DM to 43% with water and by addition of 5% molasses. The pH of silages of rumen contents and wheat straw, with and without molasses were 4.8 and 4.92, respectively. The silage containing rumen contents and wheat straw showed a little increase in C.P. In phase three, a metabolic trial was conducted at Buffalo Reaearch Institute, Pattoki, in which 15 male buffalo calves were fed the diets having total mixed ration (TMR) (Ti), TMR with 43% DM in wheat straw (T2), 50% TMR plus 50% ensued wheat straw and rumen contents (T3), TMR with 5% molasses in wheat straw (T4), and 50% TMR plus 50% ensued wheat straw with rumen contents and molasses (T5). The data thus obtained was statistically analyzed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. The significant differences between means were tested by Duncan's Multiple Range test. Among the treatments containing ensued rumen contents, DM intake, DM and nutrient digestibility as well as N retention were significantly (P
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