Hormonal and Dietary Manipulation in Dairy Animals : Influence of bovine somatotropin and dietary enzose levels on the performance of buffaloes in mid lactation

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of bovine somatotropin hormone (bST) and dietary Enzose on nutrient intake and digestibility, milk performance and nitrogen (N) balance of mid lactating lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes (n=12). bST significantly increased DM, CP, NDF and ADF intakes. Significant improvement in ADF/NDF digestibility and milk yield was observed by bST injection whereas milk composition was not affected. High dietary Enzose (40% of TMR) significantly decreased DM, CP, NDF and ADF intakes and milk yield. Lower digestibility of ADF/NDF was noticed in diets having 40% Enzose. Administration of bST increased N-intake, %N retention and N excretion from milk. High dietary Enzose level (40%) decreased N intake and fecal N. While this high Enzose level improved %N retention in body as well as N excretion in milk as a percentage of intake. Therefore, overall N balance was not affected either by bST or any dietary Enzose level. It is, therefore, concluded that 20% of dietary Enzose in combination with bST at 250 mg/14 days is beneficial for overall performance of Nili-Ravi buffaloes.