Influence of various concentrations of aflatoxin B1 on in vitro rumen fermentation of a buffalo diet

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to record the milk production performance of Nili Ravi buffalo at organized farm of ICAR-CIRB, sub campus, Bir Dosanjh, Nabha (Punjab). Milk production of each animal was recorded twice daily at 0500 and 1700 h. Milk production records were taken daily for a period of one year (1st January, 2019 to 31st December, 2019) for individual animals for the morning and evening milking. The weekly measurement of milk production recorded on each Friday was taken as standard milk production in that particular week and used for calculation of wet and herd average. The range of number of buffaloes in milk varied from 86 on 05.07.2019 to 120 on 04.01.2019. The range of total number of dry buffaloes varied from 33 on dated 04.01.2019 to 74 on dated 12.07.2019. The range of total number of buffaloes at farm on any Friday varied from 153 on 03.05.2019 to 177 on 26.04.2019. The total milk produced ranged from 720 kg on 08.09.2019 to 1177.3 kg on 20.12.2019. The herd average ranged from 4.25 kg on 26.07.2019 to 7.54 kg on 20.12.2019. The wet average varied between 7.78 kg in April to 9.80 kg in October with an overall (January to December) average of 8.77 kg; and herd average varied between 4.49 in July to 7.38 in December with an overall average of 5.73 kg. The wet average varied between 7.78 kg in April to 9.80 kg in October with an overall (January to December) average of 8.77 kg; and herd average varied between 4.49 in July to 7.38 in December with an overall average of 5.73 kg. It was concluded that the herd average (the better indicator of herd performance) of 5.73 kg was considerably lower than the herd average of 6.54 as reported in the previous period of 2018-2019. Such a considerable decrease in the milk yield of the same herd is a matter of great concern and needs to be investigated deeply keeping in view the nation’s interest. The lack of skilled labour and good animal management due to large herd size are the two key variables that might limit the future increase in production and profitability at the farm.