Effect of Mineral and Vitamin Supplementation on Buffalo's Milk Production and its Correlation with Heat Stress in Summers Singh Satyendra Pal* Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (RVSKVV), P.O. Joura Khurd, A.B. Road, Morena-476001 (Madhya Pradesh) *Senior Scientist/Head and Corresponding author. E-mail: singhsatendra57@gmail.com
Online published on 20 November, 2017. Abstract The study was aimed at evaluating the effect of high temperature (heat stress) on buffalo's milk production in summer season under field conditions. The study was conducted on lactating buffaloes during summer seasons comprising 40 animals. The selected buffaloes were divided into two uniform groups of 20 each, based on farmers’ practice (T1) and recommended practice (T2) groups. After calving of one month, all the T2 group buffaloes were dewormed with Fenbendazole and supplemented with Calcium (100ml/day/buffalo) and Chelated mineral mixture (30 gm/day/buffalo) for a period of three months, April to June (90 days) with increase of temperature, T1 groups of buffaloes showed decrease in milk production and in T2 groups, milk production maintained an increase pattern. Under the recommended practice (T2) groups buffaloes, supplementation resulted in maintain and immediate increase in milk production during the first month which continued to increase in subsequent months of lactation. The overall increase in milk production in T2 group was 42.60 percent, respectively as compared to T1 group. The results showed a significant effect of heat stress on daily milk yield. In the study, the daily milk yield decreases from 6.5 to 5.5 liters, in farmer practice (T1), heat stress reduced milk yield by 18.18 percent. This study clearly demonstrates no adverse effect of high temperature in lactating buffaloes due to oral mineral and vitamin supplementation in summer season. This clearly indicates the ameliorative efficacy of mineral and vitamin supplementation on heat stress. Top Keywords Buffalo, heat stress, milk production, summer, temperature. Top |