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Effects of Varying Levels of Fungal (Arachniotus sp.) Treated Wheat Straw as an Ingredient of Total Mixed Ration on Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility in Nili Ravi Buffalo Calves

Summary

This research explored an innovative way to improve animal feed by treating wheat straw with beneficial fungi. The study found that replacing one-third of regular wheat straw with fungally-treated straw in buffalo feed led to better growth and nutrition absorption in young buffalo calves. This has important implications for livestock farming, particularly in regions where high-quality feed is scarce. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides a cost-effective way to improve animal feed quality for farmers • Helps address the challenge of limited feed resources in developing countries • Offers an environmentally friendly method to enhance livestock production • Could lead to more efficient meat and dairy production • Demonstrates practical application of biotechnology in agriculture

Background

The livestock sector is crucial to Pakistan’s agriculture, accounting for 55.9% of agriculture value and 11.8% of GDP during 2013-2014. With approximately 172 million livestock heads, there is an increasing need to improve production to meet growing population demands. A major constraint is the shortage of quality feedstuffs, with heavy reliance on poor quality dry roughages like wheat straw. Wheat straw is low in crude protein and energy, with high fiber limiting voluntary intake in ruminants. Biotechnological methods using fungi could improve its nutritional value.

Objective

To evaluate the effects of replacing wheat straw with fungal (Arachniotus sp.) treated wheat straw as an ingredient of total mixed ration (TMR) on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in Nili Ravi buffalo male calves.

Results

Calves fed TMR2 (33% fungal-treated wheat straw) showed significant improvements in dry matter intake, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed economics compared to other groups. This group also demonstrated higher digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, neutral- and acid detergent fibers. The fungal treatment increased crude protein and ash contents while reducing cell wall contents in the wheat straw.

Conclusion

TMR with 33% fungal-treated wheat straw replacement has potential to enhance growth performance and nutrient digestibility in male Nili Ravi buffalo calves. Beyond this level, performance may decline due to reduced dry matter intake and digestibility. Biological treatments are preferable to physical and chemical methods for environmental conservation.
  • Published in:Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences,
  • Study Type:Clinical Trial,
  • Source: 10.5713/ajas.15.0429
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