Variability in residual feed intake and nutrient utilization in Murrah buffalo heifers.
A feeding trial with 18 Murrah buffalo heifers (238 ± 63 kg; 1.7 ± 0.4 years old) was conducted for 57 days, and feed intake and body weight were recorded followed by 7 days of urine and feces collection. Heifers were grouped into low (RFI-I) and high (RFI-II) feed efficiency groups by regressing DMI (g head-1day-1) on BWG (g head-1day-1) and mid-test MBW (kg). RFI-II heifers had slightly higher DMI (g head-1day-1and expressed per unit of BW, %BW, MBW, mid-test BW, and mid-test MBW) and all associated nutrient intakes, BWG, feed efficiency traits (FCR, CPCR), digestibility of nutrients, and retentions of crude protein and fat over RFI-I heifers. The corresponding intake values (kg head-1day-1) for RFI-I versus RFI-II were the following: DMI (6.73 ± 0.56 vs 6.51 ± 0.50), CPI (0.99 ± 0.008 vs 0.97 ± 0.07), DOMI (5.06 ± 0.47 vs 5.11 ± 0.42), and TDNI (4.95 ± 0.47 vs 5.00 ± 0.42). BWG (669 ± 52 vs 776 ± 47 g head-1day-1), feed efficiency traits (FCR: 10.32 ± 1.16 vs 8.77 ± 1.04 and CPCR: 1.52 ± 0.17 vs 1.30 ± 0.16), N balance (38 ± 9 vs 45 ± 8 g N head-1day-1), and protein and fat retentions (239 ± 57 vs 282 ± 51 g CP head-1day-1and 430 ± 6 vs 494 ± 59 g fat head-1day-1) of RFI-I were less than RFI-II heifers, respectively. Based on the predicted RFI values, RFI-II buffalo heifers could be selected for feed efficiency.
Hawassa University, Hawassa, P. O. Box 336, Ethiopia. tegenengss38@gmail.com.
Tegene
T
Negesse
National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, 132001, India.
Chander
C
Datt
National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, 132001, India.
S S
SS
Kundu
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000502:physiology*; D003612:Dairying; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007194:India; D014329:Tropical Climate
Nutrient efficiency; Nutrient retention; Predictability of performance; Selection of animals