Effects of saturated fat supplementation and forage-neutral detergent fiber content on production performance of lactating buffaloes.

Objective: The study aimed to find out the effects of dietary forage-neutral detergent fiber (fNDF), saturated fat, and their interaction on milk production, composition, and blood metabolites in lactating buffaloes.

Methods: Sixteen multiparous buffaloes received 4 treatments with 2 different levels of fNDF and saturated fat according to a changeover design with 6-wk periods under restricted feed intake. Within each fNDF level, the buffaloes received 1 of the 2 saturated fat levels for 3-week subperiods, which corresponded to the following treatments: 1) 23.4% fNDF and 0% fat, 2) 23.4% fNDF and 2% fat, 3) 33.5% fNDF and 0% fat and 4) 33.5% fNDF and 2% fat.

Results: Increasing fNDF levels increased the body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), and rumen pH. Despite these changes, levels of fNDF did not alter the milk components and yield. Dietary saturated fat supplies improved milk fat content and tended to enhance the yields of milk fat and fat-corrected milk. In addition, the saturated dietary fat supplies increased BW, milk nitrogen efficiency, and cholesterol concentration, and decreased predicted methane yield. However, the milk yield, BCS, and rumen pH remained unaffected by dietary fat supplies. A high fNDF diet with dietary saturated fat supplementation tended to increase the milk fat content.

Conclusion: Balancing diets with saturated fats and fiber significantly affects productivity. These results indicate that feeding fNDF with saturated fat may be a viable option for producers to improve milk fat production, enhance body condition, and reduce methane production in buffaloes.