Pre partum supplementation on certain characteristics of dam and calf in local buffaloes under mixed farming system

Sixty buffaloes were selected for an on-farm study to elucidate the effect of pre-partum supplementation on body condition score of dam, milk production, birth weight and growth rate of calf among local buffaloes reared under mixed farming system in Bidar district, Karnataka, India. Supplementation was done for 90 days till parturition using concentrate feed of known composition. Results revealed that pre-partum supplementation had a significant (P ≤ 0.01) effect on body condition score of dam before and at the end of 3rd month of lactation and calf birth weight (27.75±0.39, 27.33±0.40, 28±0.44 vs. 24.33±0.56), Whereas, no effect was observed on calf growth rate/ average daily gain. Milk yield was significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher in dam supplemented (4.45 ± 0.20, 4.62 ± 0.20, 4.90 ± 0.20) compared to non supplemented groups (3.50 ± 0.20). However, no significant difference was observed in the milk constituents like milk fat, solid not fat and total solids.