Partial Replacement of Yellow Corn Grains by Dried Orange Pulp in Lactating Buffalo Rations During Summer Season: Effects on Animal Performance and Profitability

Abstract

Abstract Twenty-seven lactating Egyptian buffaloes (average body weight: 600 ± 50 kg; in the first to fourth lactation season) were randomly divided into three experimental groups to study the partial replacement of yellow corn grains (YCG) by dried orange pulp (DOP) during the summer season. Feed intake, nutrients digestibility, milk yield and composition, some blood parameters and the economic efficiency were investigated. The YCG were replaced by DOP at levels of 0, 30 and 60% in R1 (control), R2 (30%DOP) and R3 (60%DOP), respectively. The dry matter intake (DMI) decreased by 0.63 and 0.83 kg DM in R2 and R3, respectively, compared to control. Digestion coefficient of CP and digestible CP were significantly decreased by increasing the DOP replacement level, while CF digestibility was increased (p ˂ 0.05), and the other nutrients were not affected. There were no significant differences found overall the blood parameters measured (p > 0.05). Similarly, no differences neither in average daily milk yield (DMY; actual or fat corrected milk -FCM-) nor in milk composition reached the significant level among the experimental groups (p > 0.05). Furthermore, concentrate feed mixture cost (LE/ ton) was lowered by 6.6% and 13.17% in R2 and R3, respectively, compared to R1. It could be concluded that this study would be, economically, applicable in ruminant feed factories and animal production farms to decrease the feeding cost without any negative impact neither on animal health nor performance. Moreover, Egyptian buffalos are so adapted with the summer conditions in Egypt.