Vol. 9, Issue 12, Part D (2025)

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding bypass fat on dry matter and nutrient intake, milk production, milk composition, efficiency of feed conversion, economics of milk production of Surti buffaloes. Fourteen advanced pregnant Surti buffaloes were selected based on their records of daily milk yield and milk fat percent. The buffaloes were divided into two groups: Control (T₁) and Treatment group (T₂) with seven animals in each group. The buffaloes in control group were fed with green fodder, dry fodder and concentrate mixture as per ICAR requirements, while animals of treatment group received the same ration but were supplemented with bypass fat @ 130 g/d prepartum for one month and 30 g/kg milk yield for three months postpartum. The average daily DM, DCP and TDN intake (kg/day) during the prepartum phase were non-significant while during postpartum phase DM and TDN intake were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the bypass fat supplemented group but DCP intake was similar in both group. The average daily whole milk yield (kg/head/day), fat percent and total solid% were significantly (p<0.05) increase in bypass fat group however, SNF% was lower in bypass fat supplemented group but calcium% and phosphorus% were statistically non-significant. The average daily yield (kg/head) of fat, total solid, 6% FCM, SCM and ECM were significantly (p<0.05) higher in bypass fat supplemented group while SNF yield was non-significant. The feed conversion efficiency of DMI (kg intake/kg milk) to whole milk and DMI, DCPI and TDNI (kg intake/kg 6% FCM) to 6% FCM were higher (p<0.05) in bypass fat feeding group as compared to control group while DCPI and TDNI (kg intake/kg milk) to whole milk were numerically higher in bypass fat group. The average daily returns per buffalo ₹ 64.83 was higher (p<0.05) in bypass fat supplemented group as compared to control group.