Effect of dietary fat on performance, rumen fermentation and some blood parameters in buffalo.
Abstract: This study was carried out at El-Gemmaiza Experimental Station, Animal Production Research Institute (APRI), Agriculture Research Center (ARC). Eighteen 6-9 month old buffalo calves were divided according to their body weight into three comparable groups, 6 animals in each. Average body weight at the beginning of the experiment was 190±5kg for the three groups. The experimental period lasted for 36 weeks. Animals were fed individually and nutrient requirements were adjusted every two weeks according to changes in body weight. Three rations were used in this experiment, i.e., control (CR), oil substituted ration (OSR) and dry fat substituted ration (FSR). The control ration consisted of yellow corn, rice straw, clover hay and concentrate mixture. The yellow corn of the control ration was partially substituted (on the energy basis) with 5% dietary oil or dry fat to compare them vs. carbohydrates as an energy source for fattening buffalo calves. Rations were iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. Oil and dry fat were well mixed with the ground corn and co-op mix before feeding. Rations were offered to the animals three times a day at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 none and 4:00 p.m. (except during the digestibility trials, feed was offered only once a day). Fresh water was offered to the animals three times a day at 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Three digestibility trials were carried out at the 12th, 24th week and at the end of the experimental period. Four animals from each group were used in each trial. At the end of the last digestibility trial, rumen fluid samples were collected before-feeding and then at 2, 4 and 6 hrs after feeding. Blood samples were collected from all animals once at 4 hr after feeding right in the middle of each of the three stages of fattening. Total lipids (TL), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (CH), total protein (TP), GOT, GPT, HDLP, LDLP and phospholipids were determined. All the experimental animals were watched at the middle of each of the three stages, each time consists of two successive days, 10 hrs each. The ingestive behavior activities were recorded. At the end of the experimental period, four animals from each group were slaughtered to study the carcass traits.
Results revealed that:
1- Dry fat contains more saturated fatty acids than oil.
2- During the three stages of the study, digestibility of DM and OM was higher with calves fed FSR than those received OSR or CR. Significant differences were detected during the early stage.
3- Digestibility of CP differed between the dietary treatments within the fattening stages but generally increased with FSR than OSR and CR.
4- Digestibility of EE was very high in all rations; Substituting corn grain with either source of fat lead to an increase in EE digestibility in all stages.
5- Dietary treatments did not have any significant effects on the digestibility of NFE. Dietary treatments significantly increased the digestibility of CF.
6- Dietary fat improved the nutritive value as TDN, DCP and DE.
7- Dietary fat or oil did not affect ruminal pH.
8- Concentration of ruminal NH3-N was significantly higher for the control group than the fat-treated groups.
9- The higher values of VFA were reported for the oil-treated group, while the lowest were found for the dry fat-diet.
10- The acetate: propionate ratio was higher with CR and FSR than OSR.
11- Dry matter intake tended to be higher for the treated diets due to the heavier body weight.
12- Calves fed the FSR gained significantly more than the other groups. Average daily gain was 0.88, 0.99 and 1.14 kg/d for the treated groups CR, OSR and FSR, respectively.
13- Feed efficiency was higher with animals fed the FSR than CR with an intermediate value for those fed OSR.
14- Feeding different sources of fat increased all the serum lipid fractions. Levels were higher for OSR than FSR due to the insolubility of dry fat.
15- Rumination activity was higher with calves received fat or oil than the control group. Animals in FSR and OSR drank more water than CR in all stages of the study.
16- Fasting body weight and hot carcass were heavier for group FSR followed by OSR and lighter for CR. Dressing percentage was higher for FSR (57.18%) than both other groups (52.71% for OSR and 52.24% for CR).
17- Differences were found to be significant for skin and liver. Weights of these organs were higher for FSR followed by OSR and lastly for CR.
18- Lean percentage was significantly higher for the treated groups than the control; values were 71.12, 68.97 and 61.4% for groups FSR, OSR and CR, respectively. Bone and fat percentages followed the opposite trend.
19- The area of the eye muscle was less in CR (92.41 cm2) than those in OSR (98.63 cm2) and FSR (118.23 cm2).
20- Dietary treatments had no effects on the chemical composition of the eye muscle.
Publication year 2003
Availability location مكتبة معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد - الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number 834
Organization Name
Country Egypt
Department Animal Nutrition Research Departement
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal feeding
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Animal nutrition. Blood composition. Fats. Rumen digestion.
Publication Type PhD Thesis
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