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Nitrogen balance, production performance, and plasma metabolites of lactating buffaloes in response to varying dietary protein levels

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Abstract

Protein imbalance in dairy rations affects N balance and milk N efficiency (MNE) resulting in extra N excretion to the environment. The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in N balance, milk production, and plasma metabolites of lactating buffaloes in response to different dietary crude protein (CP) supplies. Six multiparous Nili Ravi buffaloes in mid-lactation were used in this experiment in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. The treatments were diets with 9.26, 10.0, and 11.4% of CP on DM basis. All the diets were iso-caloric (2.05 Mcal metabolizable energy/kg of DM), whereas oat silage was mixed with the respective concentrate and offered once daily as total mixed ration. Milk fat content and yields of actual milk, 4% fat corrected milk, milk fat, protein, and lactose increased by 3.97, 9.63, 11.8, 6.23, and 6.57%, respectively. Milk protein content tended to increase linearly with increasing dietary CP levels. Milk N secreted as g/d increased, while as percent of N intake decreased. The resulting decrease in MNE (13.7%) was 3.45 greater than the increase in milk yield observed by increasing dietary CP from 9.26 to 11.4% of DM. Total manure N increased linearly in terms of g/d and tended to increase as percent of N excreted. Excretion rate of N also increased linearly by 32%. In conclusion, milk yield, milk fat, protein, and lactose yields increased; however, decreased MNE indicates relatively greater N losses as observed by increased N excretion rate when CP level increased from 9.26 to 11.4% in the diet of lactating buffaloes.

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The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of farm staff at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, B-Block Ravi Campus, Pattoki, Pakistan, especially M. Alyas for his help in animal handling and data collection. The authors give special thanks to Dr. M. Imran, Department of Biochemistry, for his help in sample analyses.

Funding

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan (Grant No. PD-IPFP/HRD/HEC/2013/1997).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Outfall Road, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

    Muhammad Uzair Akhtar, Anjum Khalique & Muhammad Naveed-ul-Haque

  2. Department of Livestock Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Outfall Road, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

    Hifzulrahman & Muhammad Saadullah

  3. Department of Animal Nutrition, KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (Sub-Campus University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences), Narowal, 51600, Pakistan

    Muhammad Imran

  4. University of Education, College Road, Township, Lahore, 54770, Pakistan

    Talat Naseer Pasha

  5. University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan

    Muhammad Naeem Tahir

  6. Provincial Animal Nutrition Laboratory, Livestock Complex, 16-Cooper Road, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

    Muhammad Ikram-ul-Haq

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  1. Muhammad Uzair Akhtar
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Contributions

Conceptualization: MNH, MUA, TNP, AK. Methodology: MUA, H, MNT, MI, MS, MIH. Formal analysis: MNH, MUA, MIH, MI. Writing, original draft preparation: MUA, MNH, H, MS. Writing, review and editing: MNH, TNP, MNT, AK. Supervision: MNH, TNP, AK. Funding acquisition: MNH. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Muhammad Naveed-ul-Haque.

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The entire experiment was conducted in accordance with regulations by the ethical committee for animal welfare at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.

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Akhtar, M.U., Hifzulrahman, Imran, M. et al. Nitrogen balance, production performance, and plasma metabolites of lactating buffaloes in response to varying dietary protein levels. Trop Anim Health Prod 53, 443 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02883-0

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