The utilisation of a high level energy/protein diet for lactating Mediterranean buffaloes: Intake capacity and effects on quanti–qualitative milk parameters

The trial was carried out using 14 multiparous buffaloes divided into two groups according to yield in the previous lactation (2653 vs. 2625 kg), number of lactations (4.8 vs. 4.1), live weight (670.6 vs. 657.1 kg), days post-calving (21.6 vs. 23.6 days) and average yield at the on-set of the trial (11.18 vs. 10.90 kg/day). The effects of both feed intake and the quanti–qualitative parameters of the milk yield were evaluated following the ad libitum administration of two diets containing two different forage/concentrate ratios, diet 1 = 48 : 52 (0.94 Milk FU/kg DM, 158.3 g/kg DM of crude protein); diet 2 = 55 : 45 (0.85 Milk FU/kg DM, 144.4 g/kg DM of crude protein). The trial lasted for 114 days, on average from day 23 to 137 of lactation. The dry matter intake for diet 1 was 16.37 kg/day, for diet 2 it was 16.53 kg/day. No significant differences were found with live weight of the animals; however, the buffaloes in group 1 showed gains of 35.0 kg compared to 54.2 kg of those in group 2. A significant difference (P < 0.05) in milk yield favouring group 1 (11.66 vs. 9.42 kg/day) was observed while fat (73.20 vs. 80.08 g/kg) and protein content (43.24 vs. 46.41 g/kg) was higher for group 2. Coagulation data indicated that the milk yield of group 2 showed better coagulation properties (r = 18.35 min, K₂₀ = 3.88 min, A₃₀ = 47.00 mm), than group 1.