STUDY ON EFFECT OF HYDROPONIC MAIZE FODDER SUPPLEMENTATION ON MILK YIELD IN MILCH BUFFALOES
ATTURI KRISHNA MURTHY*, DHANALAKSHMI GUDURU, KALYAN CHAKRAVARTHY, AND Y. G. PRASAD
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Yagantipalle, Kurnool Dist, Andhra Pradesh
Associate Professor, ILFC, College of Veterinary Science, Proddatur
Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone-X, Hyderabad
*(e-mail : atturikrishna@rediffmail.com)
(Received : 26 May 2018; Accepted : 20 June 2018)
SUMMARY
Hydroponic fodder production plays significant role in augmenting fodder shortage of small holder dairy production system in scarce rainfall areas. The present experiment was conducted in the adopted villages of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Yagantipalle, Kurnool dist., A.P. to assess the effect of hydroponic maize fodder (HMF) on production performance in the milch buffaloes. A low cost hydroponic fodder production devise (Krishi Fodder Master) was fabricated and utilized in the experiment. Twenty graded murrah buffaloes of 2nd and 3rd lactation were equally divided into two groups (T1&T2). First group fed with 5kg sorghum straw per day along with recommended quantity of concentrates and the second group fed with 5kg sorghum straw and 12kg HMF per day. Data on HMF production, milk yield/ day, % fat in milk and 3.5% FCM/day was collected for 60 days trial period. 7.2kg HMF was obtained from one kilogram of maize seed within 7 days without using any nutrients in the irrigated water. The DM, CP, CF, EE, TA and NFE contents in HMF were 14.3 15.8, 12.62, 3.74, 3.27 and 64.57 respectively. The data revealed that 6.5% increased mean milk yield/day was recorded in T2 (6.88±0.47) as compared to T1 (6.46±0.49). The mean % fat and SNF in T1 and T2 were recorded as 6.78±0.19, 8.86±0.16 and 7.08±0.23, 9.14±0.12 respectively. The gross income per day was 13.05% more in T2 (Rs.250.47±17.31) than T1 (Rs.221.55±15.49). The data revealed that saving of Rs.15.61/buffalo/day on concentrate feeding and increased net returns of Rs. 44.58/buffalo/day were recorded on supplementing HMF. These results were found significant at 5% (P<0.5). Feeding of HMF to buffaloes produced under Krishi Fodder Master was found to be economical for medium producing animals in low rain fall areas.
Key words:Graded murrah buffaloes, low cost hydroponic system, hydroponic maize fodder, krishi fodder master