Effect of Pashu chocolate supplementation on production and reproductive performance of milch buffalo under field conditions of semi arid region

Abstract

Pashu chocolate is the brand name of the urea molasses mineral block formulated by KVK, Panchmahal by using of urea, molasses, wheat bran, area specific mineral mixture, black salt, etc. for augment milk production and reproductive performance of dairy animals. A study was conducted to find out the efficacy of Pashu chocolate supplementation on productive and reproductive performance of milking buffalo and feed economics at farmers field in semi-arid zone, during the year 2018 to 2019. Twenty, lactating Mehsana breed of buffalo were randomly selected and distributed equally in to two groups ten each in a completely randomized design i.e., T1 (Control) and T2 (Pashu chocolate supplementations). In the feeding schedule of the present study T1 animals were given 5 to 6 kg dry roughage (sorghum/pearl millet) with green fodder (20 kg Napier-lucerne) added to 2.5 kg concentrate feed/ day, whereas an ad lib lick of UMMB (Pashu chocolate) was offered in the T2 Group in addition to the feeding schedule of T1 Group. An increase of 24.56% in milk i.e., from 6.23±0.40 to 7.76±0.54 L per day was recorded after comparing the outcomes of the two treatments. This significant (P˂0.05) increase in milk production indicates a positive impact of Pashu chocolate on the performance of milch buffaloes. Supplementation of Pashu chocolate as an ad lib lick reduced the postpartum estrus period and service period from 79.7±7.43 and 132.00±13.34 days to 54.3±4.41 and 81.60±7.54 days, respectively. Hence, the findings in the present study indicate beneficial effects of Pashu chocolate on productive and reproductive traits of buffaloes in semi-arid climatic conditions.