Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia

© 2011 Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia

ISSN 1806-9290 R. Bras. Zootec., v.40, p.93-97, 2011 (supl. especial)
www.sbz.org.br

Nutrient requirements of buffaloes

Shyam Sundar Paul1

1 Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Bir Dosanjh, Nabha-147201, Punjab, India.

ABSTRACT - Present state of knowledge on nutrient requirements of buffaloes has been reviewed and best estimates
suitable for use as safe guideline for feeding of buffaloes have been identified. Substantial data is available on dry matter intake,
energy and protein requirement in river buffaloes but data are limited on swamp or Mediterranean buffaloes. There is huge
variation in individual estimates of energy or protein requirements, which is primarily attributable to difference in the method
used for assay of requirements. In most of earlier reports, requirements were assessed by short term nutrient deprivation trial
or balance trials. Safety of such estimates for use in producing buffaloes is questionable. Recently most of the estimations were
made in long term feeding trial and also by meta-analysis of large number of long term feeding trial data and hence these estimates
have better safety margins. There is paucity of information on nutrient requirement of working, pregnant buffaloes and
breeding bulls and also on mineral and vitamin requirements of all category of buffaloes. These areas need to be addressed in
future research programmes on buffalo nutrition.

Key words: buffaloes, energy, nutrient requirement, protein

Exigências nutricionais de búfalos

RESUMO - O estado atual do conhecimento sobre exigências nutricionais de búfalos foi revisado, identificando-se os
índices mais adequados para serem utilizados como parâmetro seguro para a alimentação de búfalas. Muitos dados estão
diponíveis em relação ao consumo de matéria seca, energia e necessidades proteicas de búfalos de rio, mas os dados são limitados
em búfalos de pântano e da raça Mediterrânea. Existe enorme variação nas estimativas individuais em relação às necessidades
de energia ou proteína, que é atribuída principalmente à diferença de método utilizado para a análise destas necessidades. Na
maioria dos trabalhos, os requisitos foram avaliados por teste de privação de nutriente a curto prazo ou teste de equilíbrio. A
segurança de tais estimativas para uso na produção de búfalos é questionável. Recentemente, a maioria das estimativas foi feita
pelo teste de alimentação a longo prazo e também por meta-análise de grande número de dados experimentais de alimentação
de longo prazo e, portanto, essas estimativas têm melhores margens de segurança. Há escassez de informações sobre as
exigências nutricionais em animais de trabalho, búfalas grávidas e touros reprodutores e também sobre as necessidades de
minerais e vitaminas para todas as categorias de búfalos. Essas áreas devem ser abordadas em futuros programas de investigação
sobre a nutrição de búfalos.

Palavras-chave: búfalos, energia, exigência nutricional, proteína

Introduction of 12.7% per year. Although mainly three types of

domesticated buffaloes (river, swamp and Mediterranean)
Buffalo is increasingly becoming popular in several are reared across the world, the river buffalo constitute the
parts of the world because of its superior quality of milk, major population of buffalo. Today the riverine buffaloes,
better ability to adapt to different climates especially hot apart from India and Pakistan are found in number of
and humid climate and to poor quality crop residue based countries in Asia, Europe and America. Many countries
fibrous diets and their high fertility rates (Paul & Lal, 2010). have introduced crossbreeding program to improve genetic
Most buffaloes are located in countries where cultivated potential of local buffaloes. Males of superior river buffaloes
forage crops and pastures are limited. The total buffalo from India and Pakistan are being utilized in such program.
population increased from about 135 million heads in 1991 To exploit maximum production or reproduction
to around 165 million heads in 2007, i.e., at annual growth performance from a particular species of animal, accurate
rate of 3.3% buffalo population. However, the highest estimation of its nutrient requirements is a must. The most
growth rate in buffalo population has been recorded in the of the research data available on nutrient requirements of
American continent where its number is growing at a rhythm buffaloes are on river type buffaloes and data on swamp,

Corresponding author: sspaulcirb@rediffmail.com

94 Paul

Mediterranean and crossbred of river and swamp buffalo Lal, 2010). Generally, the data on energy and protein
are limited. The following section presents an overview of requirements of buffaloes had mainly been estimated in
present state of knowledge on nutrient requirements of three ways-a) short nutrient deprivation trial followed by
buffaloes. estimation of fasting heat production or nitrogen
excretion, b) short term energy or nitrogen balance trial
Differences in digestion and utilization of nutrients in
where buffaloes were allowed to make small gains or
cattle and buffaloes
losses in energy or nitrogen balance and then calculating
There are considerable physiological differences the energy or protein needed to promote zero balance and
between cattle and buffaloes. Although considerable c) long term feeding trial, where varying but known
number of conflicting reports are available regarding quantity of feed energy or protein were given to producing
superiority of one species over the other, results of meta- buffaloes and input output relation were estimated using
analysis of large number of experimental data indicated multiple regression analysis model. The estimates
that the voluntary intake is significantly less (2.56 vs. emanated from the first two methods can be potentially
3.09% of BW) in lactating buffaloes than in cattle of similar unsafe for applying to producing buffaloes as they were
production level, and that gross energetic efficiency (25.19 not estimated in practical farm feeding condition in
vs. 23.17%), net energetic efficiency (60.70 vs. 52.79 %), producing buffaloes. The estimates obtained by the third
gross protein efficiency (45.72 vs. 38.45%) and net protein method can be considered as the practical estimates for
efficiency (72.56 vs. 59.86%) are significantly higher in nutrient requirements.
buffaloes than in cattle (Paul et al., 2003). Recently nutrient requirements were estimated by meta-
On the basis of overall average of 33 experimental analysis of pooled data of multiple experimental long term
groups of cattle and similar numbers of buffaloes fed on feeding trial. Estimates based on such approach can be
roughage based diet in India, dry matter (DM) digestibility considered as best and such estimates formed the basis for
was 4.5% (2.4 percentage point) higher in buffaloes the latest feeding standards prescribed for buffaloes in
whereas on the basis of average of 27 experimental groups, India (Paul & Lal, 2010).
digestibility of crude fibre (CF) was 4.6% (2.7 percentage
Energy requirements of buffaloes
point) higher in buffaloes (Paul & Lal, 2010). Similar
findings from Japan and Brazil have also been reported. The units used in the feeding standards should ideally
Most of the studies indicated that nitrogen retention is be in the same as those used in the evaluation of feeds,
higher in buffaloes than in cattle on identical level of N and hence, the existing feeding standards have adopted the
energy intake (Sebastian et al., 1970; Ranjhan & total digestible nutrient (TDN) and metabolizable energy
Krishnamohan, 1977; Kennedy et al., 1992; Hayashi et al., (ME) values for expressing nutrient requirement of
2005 ). Kennedy et al. (1992) also found that the efficiency buffaloes. TDN or ME system works well as is evident from
of net microbial growth in rumen was 20% higher in buffaloes the fact that animal’s performance is closely related to
than cattle (35 vs. 30 g N) per kg apparent digestion of TDN intake, when the intakes of other nutrients are
organic matter in the fore stomach. adequate. Sufficient data on NE content of feed is not
In a review conducted by us it was concluded that adult available and hence use of NE for feeding buffaloes cannot
buffaloes have slightly slower rate of passage of digesta be adopted at present.
than adult cattle (Paul et al., 2004; Paul & Lal, 2010).
Energy requirements for maintenance
Calorimetric studies have shown that fasting metabolic
rate is lower (284.5 kJ vs. 334.7-343.0, kJ per kg MBS) in Calorimetric studies have shown that fasting heat
buffaloes than in cattle (Maymone & Bergonzini, 1960). production is lower in buffaloes than in cattle (284.5 kJ vs.
343, kJ per kg metabolic body size (MBS or W 0.75 );
Methods used for estimation of energy and protein
Maymone and Bergenzini, 1987). Khan et al. (1988)
requirements in buffaloes
estimated fasting heat production in adult non-pregnant
There is large variation in reported values for energy buffaloes as 284.5 kJ /kg W 0.75 .
and protein requirements for buffaloes. In most instances Estimates of energy requirements for maintenance
differences between individual estimates are largely (g TDN/kg MBS) of different category of buffaloes were
attributable to difference in experimental method recently reviewed by us (Paul & Lal, 2010) are as follows:
employed for estimating requirement. This has been Adult, 27 to 29.78; growing, 27.5 to 52 g and lactating,
extensively reviewed by us (Paul & Mandal, 2002; Paul & 35.3-49.2.

R. Bras. Zootec., v.40, p.93-97, 2011 (supl. especial)

Nutrient requirements of buffaloes 95

Huge variation in these individual estimates is Energy requirement for pregnancy, breeding bull and
attributable mainly to difference in method of estimation. work
However, now estimates of maintenance requirements of
There is paucity of information regarding energy
energy by meta-analysis of pooled data of long term feeding
requirement of pregnant buffaloes, breeding bull or working
trials are available which are as follows: Growing: buffaloes. The existing feeding standards have suggested
35-39.9 g TDN/kg MBS (Udeybir & Mandal., 2001); use of feeding standards for cattle derived by NRC (2001)
Lactating: 35.3 g TDN/kg MBS (Paul et al., 2002). These or AFRC (1991) for buffaloes considering that sufficient
values can be adopted safely as guideline for feeding data is not available.
buffaloes.
Protein requirements of buffaloes
Milk production
The method most widely used in India for expressing
The nutrient needs of lactating buffaloes depend upon the protein requirement for ruminants and the extent to
the amount of milk being produced and upon its composition. which a feed could meet these requirements is mainly
The milk yield depends primarily on the type of breed. based on the measurements of crude protein (CP) or
Buffalo milk contains more solids and fat than cow’s milk. digestible crude protein (DCP). Basic experimental data
Generally the fat content ranges from 5.5-13.5%. on various factors required for rumen degradable protein
Estimates of energy requirement for milk production in (RDP) and rumen undegradable protein (RUP) based
buffaloes as reviewed by us recently (Paul & Lal, 2010) feeding standards are not available. However, recently
ranges from 220 to 557 g TDN/kg 6% fat corrected milk we have developed feeding standards of growing buffalo
(FCM). heifers based on RDP and RUP system (Paul& Patil,
In an earlier study, conducted at CIRB (Nabha), India, 2007).
which was based on regression analysis of the data of long
Protein requirements for maintenance, milk production
term feeding trials conducted so far in India (35) where
and tissue gain
energy was the sole limiting nutrient, energy requirement
for milk production was worked out 406.32 g TDN per kg 6% There is a large variation in the reported values for
FCM (Paul et al., 2002). This value can be adopted as safe protein requirement in buffaloes which have been reviewed
guide for feeding buffaloes. earlier (Paul et al., 2002; Paul & Lal, 2010). The range of
estimates of DCP requirements for maintenance (g/kg
Growth
MBS), growth (g/g gain) and milk production (g/kg 6%
Buffaloes tend to deposit less fat in tissues compared FCM) are 1.11-5.05, 0.20-0.45 and 53-68.6, respectively.
to cattle of similar age. Fat content of buffalo carcass Recent estimates of protein requirements derived by
normally ranges from 2-5 % at 100 kg, 5-8% at 200 kg, 10-16 meta-analysis of pooled data of long term feeding trials,
% at 300 kg body weight (Agarwal, 1974: Prakash, 1990; which can be adopted as safe guide for feeding buffaloes,
Pathak, 1996) depending on the plane of nutrition. The are as follows:
estimates of energy requirement of gain quoted in literature Maintenance (per kg MBS): Growing: 3.60 to 5.05 g DCP
vary from 0.78 to 2.23 g TDN/g gain (Paul & Lal, 2010). The or 6 to 7.6 g CP (Udeybir & Mandal, 2001); lactating:
values of energy requirement for growth (g TDN/g gain) 3.14 g DCP or 5.43 g CP (Paul et al., 2002).
emanated from meta-analysis of pooled data of long term Growth/weight change (per g gain): growing: 0.27-
feeding trial, which can be used as safe guide for feeding 0.32 g DCP or 0.44-0.51 g CP; lactating: 0.23 g DCP or
buffaloes are as follows: growing buffaloes: 1.44-2.10 g 0.33 g CP.
TDN/g gain (Udeybir & Mandal., 2001); lactating buffalo: Milk production (per kg 6%FCM): 55.2 g DCP or
1.97 g TDN/g gain (Paul et al., 2002). 90 g CP.
Recent study indicated that energy requirement for The range of CP and MP requirements for buffalo
growth in buffalo heifers are comparable to those of male heifers estimated at different body weight was as follows:
upto 250 kg BW but rapidly increases thereafter and the maintenance (per kg MBS): 6.19 to 9.48 g CP or 3.57 to
value is as high as 3.49 g TDN/g gain at 375 kg BW (Paul 6.3 g MP; growth (per g gain): 0.24 to 0.45g CP or 0.18 to
& Patil, 2007). 0.31 g MP (Paul & Patil, 2007).

R. Bras. Zootec., v.40, p.93-97, 2011 (supl. especial)

96 Paul

The protein requirement values for Thai swamp requirements and tolerance levels prescribed by NRC
buffaloes ranged 3.12 to 5.41g CP/kg MBS for maintenance (2001) and other standards for dairy cattle has been
and 0.46 to 0.60 g CP/g gain (Tatsapong, 2009), which is adopted by feeding standards for buffaloes.
comparable to reported values for river buffaloes.
Conclusions
Protein requirement for pregnancy, breeding bull and
work
The compilation of data generated on nutrient
There is complete lack of information regarding nutrient requirements of buffaloes indicates that substantial
requirement of pregnant buffaloes, breeding bull or information is available on DM intake, energy and protein
working buffaloes. The existing feeding standards in India requirements of buffaloes. In this report, best estimates
have suggested use of feeding standards for pregnant suitable for use as safe guideline for feeding buffaloes
cattle derived by NRC (2001) or AFRC (1991) for buffaloes under tropical condition have been identified. However,
considering that no data is available. no or little information is available on nutrient requirements
Voluntary dry matter intake in buffaloes of working, pregnant buffaloes or breeding bulls. Similarly,
there is paucity of information of vitamin and mineral
Although dry matter (DM) does not come under the
requirements of buffaloes. Data on swamp and
category of nutrient, it is considered as vehicle for other
Mediterranean buffaloes or their crossbred with river
dietary nutrients. The dry matter intake capacity of different
buffaloes are limited. So, in future, these areas need special
category of buffaloes has already been reviewed earlier
attention.
(Paul & Lal, 2010). The range of values of DMI of growing
buffaloes is 2.2 to 3.15% of BW. Similarly, the range of
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