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Investigation of the effects of using Prosopis juliflora fruit in the diet on the production and composition of buffalo milk
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Mohammad Reza Mashayekhi *   |
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Abstract: (120 Views) |
Introduction: Prosopis juliflora tree is one of the plants resistant to hot weather and for this reason it has spread in Khuzestan province and other hot and dry provinces in the south of the country. The fruit of the Prosopis juliflora tree contains 11 to 16% crude protein and about 15% soluble sugar and can be used in animal feed. The results of the experiments recommend the use of amounts between 20 and 30% of Prosopis juliflora fruit in the diet of livestock. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of using Prosopis juliflora fruit in the diet of lactating buffaloes on the production and milk composition.
Materials & Methods: This experiment was performed in a repeated latin square design in two 4×4 square with using 8 lactating buffaloes with an average age of 8 years and body weight 650 kg. The rows of square were 28-day periods of experiment and columns were different number of parturition of buffaloes. Treatments included 0, 12, 18 and 24 percent of Prosopis juliflora fruit added to the diet, which replaced barley and wheat bran in the concentrate used in lactating buffaloes. Each period consisted of 21 days for the adaptation animal to the new diet and 7 days for recording. The diets were provided in form of total mixed ration (TMR) in the morning and evening.
Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference between the treatments in terms of uncorrected and corrected milk production (FCM 4%), dry matter conversion ratio to milk production, milk composition (fat%, protein%, SNF% and milk density). The lowest cost of feed (307976 Rials) was related to the use of 24% of Prosopis juliflora fruit in the diet.
Conclusion: The results of this experiment showed that the use of 24% of Prosopis juliflora fruit based on dry matter intake in feeding of lactating buffaloes has no negative effects on milk production and composition and reduces the cost of feed consumption and is recommended. In this regard, other researchers have recommended the use of 20 to 30% of Prosopis juliflora fruit in the concentrate mixture of lactating cows. In another study, the use of 40% of Prosopis juliflora fruit in the concentrate mixture of ewes was recommended. The reason for the difference in the results of the mentioned experiments may be due to the difference in the type of experimental livestock and the food used. |
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| Keywords: Milk production, Feeding diet, Concentrate, Lactating Buffalo, Prosopis juliflora Fruit |
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Full-Text [PDF 669 kb]
(41 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/04/30 | Accepted: 2025/04/30 | Published: 2025/04/30
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