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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of monensin supplementation in nitrogen balance and blood metabolites in lactating murrah buffaloes receiving concentrate and sugar graze fodder. Twelve lactating Murrah buffaloes (567.50 ± 44.3 kg of live weight; initial days in milk = 52.83 ± 10.24; milk yield = 6-8 kg/d) were randomly allocated to two groups and were fed sugar graze and concentrate mixture as a total mixed ration feed at 70:30 ratio without supplementation (control) or supplemented with monensin 24 mg/kg of dry matter intake (monensin) for 60 days. Nitrogen utilization and plasma metabolites were measured after 50th day of monensin supplementation. Intake of nitrogen and outgo of urinary, faecal, milk and total nitrogen (g/d) were not (P > 0.05) affected by monensin supplementation. However, nitrogen retention (g/d) and blood plasma glucose (mg/dl) concentration increased (P < 0.05) in treatment group as compared to control. The concentration of blood non-estrified fatty acid, blood urea nitrogen, total protein and albumin were not affected (P>0.05) by monensin supplementation. The results suggest that feeding 24 mg/kg dry matter intake of monensin on high forage diets has potential to improve nitrogen utilization and blood glucose concentration in lactating buffaloes which will help in improving profitability of dairy sector while reducing the environmental impact of milk production.