Effect of Ration Balancing on Methane Emission and Milk Production in Lactating Animals under Field Conditions in Raebareli District of Uttar Pradesh Kannan A., Garg M.R.1, Singh Pankaj2 Animal Nutrition Group, National Dairy Development Board, Anand-388 001 (Gujarat) India 1Corresponding Author: M.R.Garg, Animal Nutrition Group, National Dairy Development Board, Anand – 388 001, Gujarat, India. Phone: +91-2692-226248, Fax: +91-2692-260158, E-mail: mrgarg@nddb.coop
2CSPE Group, National Dairy Development Board, Raebareli NGC, Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, India
ABSTRACT A field trial was conducted to study the effect of balancing the ration on methane emission and milk production in lactating buffaloes and crossbred cows under field conditions in Raebareli district of Uttar Pradesh. Thirteen lactating animals each of buffaloes and crossbred cattle belonging to twenty farmers of five villages of Raebareli district in Uttar Pradesh state were selected for the study. The selected buffaloes were in their second to fourth lactation, with a production of 4.0 to 6.5 kg milk per day with 5.0 to 6.5% milk fat. The cows were in their third to fourth lactation with a production of 4.0 to 6.5 kg milk per day with 3.5 to 5.0% fat. Initially, baseline methane emissions of all the animals were estimated using sulphur hexafluoride technique, thereafter, their ration was balanced as per their nutrient requirement. After 30 days of feeding balanced ration, methane emission by the animals was estimated again. Analysis of the feeding practices revealed that though the dietary intake of TDN was adequate, CP intake was lower in both buffaloes (8.63%) and cows (18.55%) than their requirements. The calcium and phosphorus were also deficient by 43.50 and 46.43% in buffaloes and 54.06 and 51.83% in cows, respectively. Balancing of ration significantly (P<0.05) improved the milk yield and milk fat in both the species. Baseline methane production from buffaloes and cows were 214.68 and 195.79 g per day, respectively. Average methane emission, in terms of g/day and g/kg DMI was significantly (P<0.05) reduced by feeding balanced ration in both the species. The average reduction was 10.48% and 10.84% in lactating buffaloes and 11.36% and 14.32% in cows, in terms of g/day and g/kg DMI, respectively. Gross energy lost as methane also reduced significantly (P<0.05). Therefore, ration balancing has the potential to improve production and reduce methane emission from lactating buffaloes and cows. Top Key words Ration Balancing, Methane Emission, Lactating Cows, Lactating Buffaloes, Field Trial. Top |