Original Scientific Article
EFFECT OF WATER AND FEEDING FREQUENCIES ON MILK PRODUCTION AND COMPOSITION OF AZIKHELI BUFFALO IN NORTHERN PAKISTAN
The study aimed to determine the effect of water and feeding frequency on feed intake, weight gain, milk production, and composition of Azikheli buffalo in climate conditions of Northern Pakistan. Forty multiparous Azikheli buffaloes with similar live body weight, third lactation stage were selected and randomly divided into four groups with ten replicates in each group: GP-1 (water and feed once daily), GP-2 (water and feed twice daily), GP-3 (water-adlib + feed thrice daily), and GP-4 (water-adlib + adlib feed). The basic feed consisted of maize fodder, wild grass, wheat straw. The concentrate feed (2 kg) was supplemented to all groups. Individual access to watering and feed were provided for each animal. The feed samples were analyzed for their chemical composition, and digestibility. The data mean was calculated using repeated-measures ANOVA. Different water frequencies have a statistically significant effect on water intake, dry matter intake, milk production, and milk composition. The average daily water intake in GP1, GP2, GP3, and GP4 was 28.00, 44.00, 56.00 and 67.30 liters, respectively. The average intake of dry matter was 10.20, 11.15, 12.40 and 12.97 kg, respectively. Daily milk yield was 6.90, 7.44, 8.10 and 8.38 liters, respectively. Dry matter intake and milk production were significantly influenced by the frequency of water consumption and nutritional balance. A balanced diet and unrestricted access to water increased milk production by 1.90 liters per animal per day. It was determined that a balanced diet and ad libitum water consumption increased the feed intake and milk production in Azikheli buffaloes and could yield higher profitability of dairy farms.
https://macvetrev.mk/LoadArticlePdf/361
2025-03-15
23
29
https://doi.org/10.2478/macvetrev-2025-0012
water consumption
feed intake
milk composition
Azikheli buffalo
Bakhtawara
Bibi
false
1
Department of Animal Sciences (Zoology), University of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
AUTHOR
Nadar
Khan
nadar73vet@aup.edu.pk
false
2
Livestock and Dairy Development (Research) Department, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25120, Pakistan
LEAD_AUTHOR
Nikola
Adamov
false
3
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine–Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia
AUTHOR
Hanfa
Shahid
false
4
Department of Animal Sciences, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Changshan, China
AUTHOR
Khalil
Ahmad
false
5
School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
AUTHOR
M.N.M.
Ibrahaim
false
6
ILRI Office, National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan
AUTHOR
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