The reproductive performance of buffalo heifers fed bypass protein

The present experiment was planned to assess the effect of feeding formaldehyde (HCHO) treated (bypass) protein on growth and reproductive performance in buffalo heifers through alterations in rumen and blood metabolites. A total of twenty five, Surti buffalo heifers of 19-21 month of age with mean body weight were divided into five homogenous groups. Individual feeding of all the animals were followed with basal diet containing 5 kg green roughage, dry roughages ad lib along with required quantity of compounded concentrate mixture (CCM). The animals were offered with the concentrate mixture cpontaining different level of HCHO treated protein and designated as CON (control; CCM), FT-25 (CCM containing HCHO treated bypass protein @ 25%), FT-50 (CCM containing HCHO treated bypass protein @ 50%) and FT-100 (CCM containing HCHO treated bypass protein @100%). A field control group (CSM) was also assigned, which was fed with cotton seed meal as CCM.