Feeding management experiment was conducted at Buffalo Research Institute (BRI) Pattokki, to determine the effect of two sources of methionine (metasmart and sartamine) supplementation on milk production and milk composition in Nih - Ravi buffaloes. The trial was conducted on 39 lactating buffaloes having same age, weight, and lactation and milk production for 28 days (4 weeks) including two (2) weeks of adjustment period. The buffaloes were divided in to three treatments, 13 animals in each group. Two methionine sources metasmart and smartamine were added daily in the concentrate ration at the time of feeding @ 15 gm and 10 gm / animal, respectively. The data on daily feed intake and concentrate intake, daily milk production, and fortnightly weight changes. Feed, milk and blood were collected for analysis on weekly basis.

The animals were assigned to three treatments A (control), B (metasmart) and C (smartamine) with 13 animals in each group. The animals were kept under tie stall intensive feeding management. Group A was treated as control and fed only green fodder and concentrate according to milk production. Group B was treated as metasmart and fed green fodder according to body weight plus concentrate ration according to milk production along with addition of metasmart 15g/anirnal/day. While group C was treated as smartamine and fed green fodder according to body weight plus concentrate ration according to milk production with addition of smartamanie 10g/animal/day.

The buffaloes of group A (control) consumed daily 53.46 + 0.32 kg of green fodder and daily 3.82 ± 0.04 concentrate rations. Group B (metasmart) consumed daily 53.90 ± 0.32, kg of fresh matter and 3.92 ± 0.04 kg concentrate ration along with metasmart supplementation while group C (smartarnine) consumed daily 53.63 ± 0.32 kg of green fodder and 3.90 ± 0.04 kg concentrate ration. Statistical analysis of the fodder and feed intake was significant among weeks but non significant between the groups.

The milk production of the groups was recorded twice daily for each buffalo. The highest milk production was observed in group B (metasmart) 10.84±0.15 liters followed by group C (smartamine) 10.51±0.15 liters and lowest milk production in group A (control) 10.06±0.15 liters. Statistical analysis showed that data is highly significant between the groups as well as among the weeks.

The milk samples were collected on weekly basis for analysis of milk and its contents. The milk is analysed for milk fat percentage, solid hot fat (SNF), total solids (TS), milk protein and milk lactose.

The highest SNF %age was observed in group B (metasmart) 9.59±0.02 % then in group C (smartamine) 9.57±0.02 % and lowest in group A (control) 9.56± 0.02%.Buffaloes showed highest (15.84±0.12) levels of total solids contents on metasmart followed by smartamine (15.74±0.12) and lowest was showed by control group (15.68±0.12). Milk was also analyzed for the milk protein contents. Buffaloes showed highest (3.46±0.009) levels of protein contents on metasmarl and (3.37±0.009) in smartamine group followed by control (3.23±0.009). Milk lactose was high (4.22±0.01) levels of lactose contents on metasmart followed by control (4.2 1±0.01) and smartarnine (4.19±0.01) respectively. The fat level in milk of buffalo kept under treatments control, metasmart and smartamaine were 6,25±0.07, 6.25±0.07, and 6.14±0.07 respectively Milk fat % was highest (6.25±0.07) in buffaloes on metasmart supplementation.

Body weight of the animals was recorded early in the morning on fortnightly basis. The fortnightly body weight gain of the groups were 0.70±0007. O.71+0.OO7and 0.7 1±0.007 in control, metasmart and smartamine respectively.

Blood was also collected for different analysis. For this purpose blood was collected from 6 animals in each group. The blood was analyzed for serum total protein, serum triglycerides, serum urea, and serum cholesterol and serum glucose in WTO laboratory of University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. The blood total protein contents were 7.65±0.32, 9.22±0.32, and 8.40±0.32 g/dl in buffaloes in groups A, B, and C. The blood triglyceride contents were 1.67±0.26, 1.73±0.26. and 2.78±0.26 in buffaloes in groups A, B, and C. The blood urea contents were 1.15U.28, 2.46±0.28, and 2.64±0.28 in buffaloes in groups A. B, and C respectively. The blood glucose contents were 17.65±1.52, 19.79±1.52, and 17.42±1.52 in buffaloes in groups A, B, and C respectively. The blood Cholesterol contents were 96.98±6.85, 103.06+6.85, and 102.81±6.85 in buffaloes in groups A, B. and C respectively.

CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that experiment diets (green fodder and concentrate) were not fulfilling the methionine requirement of Nili-Ravi buffaloes at early stage of lactation. Supplementation with methionine (metasmart 15gm/d & smartamine @ lOgm/d) enhanced milk production and positively changed protein % in milk and yield. Hence it can be recommended that methionine may necessary be supplemented at early stage of lactation in Nili-Ravi buffaloes at rate of 15 gmlanimal/day. Methionine supplementation in experimental ration responded positively in enhancing milk production, composition and weight gain in Nili-Ravi buffaloes.