Rice Polishings as an Economical Substitute to Wheat Bran as a Supplement to Wheat Straw Diet for Lactating Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Northern Plains of

India

Centre for Advanced Studies in Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, India.

 

 

ABSTRACT: Twenty-six non-descript lactating buffaloes from 21 farm families were equally divided in two groups. The lactating buffaloes were fed a basal diet of wheat straw ad libitum and supplemented with either wheat bran (WBC) or rice polish (RPC) supplement on iso-nitrogenous basis for 4 months duration. The amount of supplement was decided on the basis of milk yield. The dry-matter intake (% BW or g/kg W 0.75  ) of lactating buffaloes from straw or concentrate moiety did not differ significantly irrespective of dietary supplements. The digestibility coefficient of DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF, ADF were also comparable. Similarly, the nutrient composition and intake of composite diet in term of DCP, TDN and ME did not differ significantly. Milk yield and composition were monitored at fortnightly intervals and found comparable irrespective of dietary supplement. The cost-benefit analysis of substitution effect of rice polish revealed that the cost of concentrate for lactating buffaloes could be reduced significantly if wheat bran is completely replaced by rice polish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Small holders livestock production systems are largely based on fibrous crop residues in developing countries. The major limitations with crop residues are their bulkiness and poor nutritive value. With the various enrichment (treatment) technologies available to improve the nutritive value finding little acceptance by farmers (Owen and Jayasuriya, 1989; Dolberg, 1992; Devendra, 1997), the only viable option left is to concentrate on catalytic supplementation with other feeds that provide additional protein, minerals and energy. Of the several alternative supplementation strategies that may be adopted, the most common is the use of purchased protein supplements, such as oil cakes (Devendra, 1997). However, the high cost, poor accessibility and tendency to divert better feeds (brans, cakes and chunies) to cities for use on specialized peri-urban dairy farms (Kiran Singh et al., 1997) restricted their use in animal feeding in rural sector. Considerable research has gone into identifying and assessing the various possibilities, and there is no dearth of on-station feeding trials to evaluate nutritive value and animal response (Devendra, 1997). Rice polish is freely available in predominantly paddy- cultivated areas of Upper Gangetic Plains of northern India at a much cheaper rate (Rs. 300/q) as compared to wheat bran (Rs. 500/q) and usually not favoured by the farmers as a supplement in the diet of lactating animals, especially during winter. Since chemical composition of rice polish is comparable to that of wheat bran, farmers may be encouraged to use rice polish as a substitute of wheat bran in the diet of lactating buffaloes to reduce the cost of milk production. Keeping this in view, an on-farm trial was conducted in the selected locales to assess the comparative performance of lactating buffaloes given wheat bran or rice polish as a constituent of concentrate supplement to the basal diet of wheat straw.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 

Experimental animals and location

The location chosen for the on-farm investigation, the Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh province, is located at 170 m above sea level (28° 22’ latitude north and 79° 12’ longitude east) in the Northern upper Gangetic Plain of India, having an annual rainfall of 900-1200 mm. It is the region of the deepest soil, with hardly any variation in relief. This constitutes the wheat and rice bowls of India and is fertile and suitable for growing various types of subtropical crops. Wheat and rice being the main cultivated crops, cereal straws form the basal diet of ruminants. Milk production in the area is characterized by low yielding non-descript buffaloes, small producers with little land holdings, use of crop residues with or without costly concentrates as feed supplements and scarce land for forage production.

 

Animals, feeding system and collection of samples

                A 120-day lactation trial was conducted on 26 lactating buffaloes (2nd to 6th lactation; avg. body weight: 502+-13.5kg) collectively owned by 21 farmers of Kalapur/Mudia Khera villages of Bareilly district. The initial selection of farmers for OFT was based on their willingness to participate and ownership of at least one lactating buffalo from 25 to 45 days post-partum producing a minimum of 4.0 litres milk per day. The buffaloes were equally divided in two groups in a completely randomized design, fed a basal diet of wheat straw ad libitum and supplemented with iso-nitrogenous concentrate (Table 1) containing either wheat bran (WBC) or rice-polish (RPC). The amount of supplement was decided on the basis of milk yield (1 kg supplement/ 2 litres  milk) as per the usual practice of the farmers. The information on various parameters of the study was collected during bi-weekly visits to the households of participating farmers. The on-farm feeding trial continued for about 4 months (120 d of lactation) during which the weekly record of milk production and dry matter intake (DMI) and general health of the animals was maintained. Milk composition was monitored at fortnightly intervals.

The nutrient digestibility was measured by restricting the normal movements of the animals with the help of owners during digestion trial. Perception of participating farmers regarding feasibility of replacing wheat bran with rice polish in the diet of lactating buffaloes and net benefit were also recorded at regular intervals.

The lactating buffaloes were fed in individual feeding stalls during entire experimental period and provided free access to water twice daily. A digestibility trial of days was conducted following atleast 60 days experimental feeding. Total dry matter intake and faecal output(24 h) were recorded daily and a sub-sample collected and dried in a forced drought oven to a constant weight for dry matter estimation . Representative samples of each daily faecal collection were drawn, pooled for seven days and preserved in diluted (25 %) sulphuric acid for N- estimation. The other samples were retained for further chemical analysis.

 

Analytical procedure

The pooled feed, residue and faeces samples, collected daily during the digestion trial were analysed for proximate composition (AOAC, 1995) and fibre fractions (Goering and Van Soest, 1970) Milk samples collected at fortnightly intervals were analysed for fat,  total solids, SNF, crude protein and ash (AOAC, 1995). The results were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means were compared using t-test (Snedecor and Cochran, 1989).

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

 

Chemical composition

                The chemical composition of wheat bran, rice polish, WBC, RPC and wheat straw used in this ecperiment is given in table 1. Ether extract, ADF and ash content of rice polish were higher than wheat bran. However, CP and NDF content were higher than wheat bran. The CP content of wheat straw was below the critical level required at normal forage consumption by buffaloes (NRC, 1981; Kearl, 1982). Though the supplements were iso-nitrogenous, the ether extract content was significantly higher in RPC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nutrient intake and utilization

                Total daily dry matter intake (%BW or g/kg W 0.75) of lactating buffaloes did not differ significantly (P<0.05) between two treatments. The DMI of lactating buffaloes ranges from 98.9 to 148.5 g/kg W 0.75 (Taparia and Sharma, 1980; Lamba et al., 2002). In this study, the buffaloes had DM intakes of 116-119 g/kg W 0.75, which clearly indicates that both the supplements were equally palatable and non-repugnant. Further, the intake of straw or concentrate moiety of the diet did not differ significantly in buffaloes irrespective of dietary supplement (table 2). Rice polish has been reported to  improve dry-matter intake, stimulate volatile fatty acid concentration, microbial numbers and efficiency of rumen synthesis (Preston et al., 1976; Elliot et. al., 1978; Cardenas Garcia et al., 1992). However, Patle and Tripathi (1978) reported that 59% deoiled rice polish in the ration of lactating buffaloes had no effect on DMI as observed in this study. Similarly, the digestibility coefficient of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral and acid detergent fibre (NDF and ADF) did not differ significantly between treatments (Table 2). These results are in agreement with the earlier findings which indicate no significant change in OM digestibility, nitrogen-retention, DM disappearance and effective degradability of grass hay with increasing level of rice polish (Chicco et.al., 1974; Cardenas Garcia et al., 1992). However, contrary to reports that indicate toxic effect of increased amount of dietary fat on cellulolytic bacteria and inhibition of fiber degradation (Harfoot et al., 1972; Hag and Miller, 1972), the digestibility of fiber fractions (NDF and ADF) in the present study was not adversely affected due to inclusion of rice polish and the fat level of RPC (3.4%) remained below the toxic  level to rumen bacteria. The intake (g/kg W 0.75) of digestible organic matter (DOM), total digestible nutrients (TDN) and digestible crude protein (DCP) was also similar in the buffaloes on both the diets. It is significant to note that CP and DCP intake (g/day) of all the lactating buffaloes was 12-23 and 24-30 percent lower than the recommended value 1.2-1.3 kg for CP and 0.73-0.77 kg for DCP, respectively. However, the animals could maintain the body condition during the experiment, which gives an indication that indigenous buffaloes may require moderately lower level of dietary protein than the recommended values in vogue. The TDN intake, g/animal as well as percent live weight or g/kg W 0.75    of buffaloes either on WBC or RPC was close to the recommended values (Kearl, 1982; ICAR, 1998).

 

 

Milk yield and composition

                The average daily milk production of buffaloes (kg/d) was similar between the dietary supplements through out the experiment (fig. 1). Similarly, the milk composition (table 3) in terms of total solids, crude protein, fat and ash did not differ significantly in buffaloes fed WBC or RPC. The comparable milk yield and composition in the present study was in agreement with the earlier report of Patle and Tripathi (1978) that indicate no significant effect on these parameters by incorporation of 59% deoiled rice polish in the concentrate mixture for lactating buffaloes.

 

Socio-economic implications

                The cost-benefit analysis of substitution effect of rice polish revealed that cost of concentrate (Rs/kg; US $ 1.00 = Rs.48.00) for lactating buffaloes could be reduced from 6.00 to 4.82 if wheat bran is completely replaced by rice polish. The cost of milk production (Rs/ lit) was 4.13 in buffaloes given WBC compared to Rs. 3.59 in their counterparts given RPC. Thus, the milk producer could save up to Rs. 3.30 per day or Rs. 100.00 per month on feeding of a buffalo giving about 4-6 lits milk/day. The rate of return  on investment made for feeds was 220.4 and 268.8% on WBC and RPC, respectively. In the opinion of the participating farmers, substitution of wheat bran with rice polish significantly improves the level of benefits. Farmers perceived feeding of rice polish as practical without any constraint. All the farmers continued to feed rice polish even after the termination of the experiment.

 

Conclusion

                Rice polish can be effectively used as an economical substitute of wheat-bran in the prevalent feeding systems of buffaloes in the Indo-gangetic plains of Northern India without any constraint.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

                This study was financially supported by funds provided by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (AP-Cessfund), NewDelhi, India.

 

REFERENCES

AOAC.1995. Official Methods of Analysis. 16th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists,

Washington, DC.

Cardenas Garcia, D., Newbold, C. J., Galbraith, H. and Topps., J. H. 1992. The effect of including

Colombian rice polishing in the diet on rumen fermentation in vitro. Anim.  Prod. 54: 275-280.

Chicco, C. F., Perdono, J.T., Garbati, S. T. and  Shultz, T. A. 1974. Replacement of rice polish for

fattening pigs. Agronomia – Tropical-Venzuela. 24: 477-481.

Devendra, C. 1997. Crop residues for feeding animals in Asia: Technology development and

adoption in crop/ livestock systems. In: C.Renard (ed). Crop Residues in sustainable Mixed Crop/Livestock Farming Systems. (CAB International, Wallingford), 241-267.

Dolberg, F. 1992. Progress in the utilization of urea-ammonia treated crop residues; Biological

and socio-economic aspects of animal production and application of the technology on small farms. Livestock Research for Rural Development 4: 20-31.

Elliot, R., Ferreiro, H. M. and Priego, A. 1978. An estimate of the quantity of feed protein

escaping degradation in the rumen of steers fed chopped sugar cane, molasses/urea supplemented with varying quantities of rice polishing. Tropical Anim. Prod. 3: 36-39.

Goering, H. K. and VanSoest, P. J. 1970. Forage Fibre analysis (apparatus, reagents, procedures

and some applications), Agricultural Handbook No.379, ARS-USDA, Washington, DC.

Hag, E.I. and Miller, T.B. 1972. Evaluation of whiskey distillery by-products. VI. The reduction

in digestibility of malt distiller’s grains by fatty acids and interaction with calcium and other reversal agents. J. Sci. Food and Agri. 23: 47-258.

Harfot, C. G., Crouchman, M. L., Noble, R.C. and Moore, J. H. 1974. Cometition between food

particles and rumen bacteria in the uptake of long chain fatty acids and triglycerides. J. Applied Bact. 37:633-641.

ICAR. 1998. Nutrient Requirements of Livestock and Poultry. Indian Council of Agriculture

Research. New Delhi

 

 

Kearl, L. C. 1982. Nutrient requirement of ruminants in developing countries. Utah Agricultural

 Experimental Station, Utah State University, International Feedstuffs Institute, Logan, USA

Kiran Singh, Habib, G., Siddiqui, M.M. and Ibrahim, M.N.M. 1997. Dynamics of feed resources

in mixed farming systems of south Asia. In:C. Renard (ed). Crop Residues in Sustainable Mixed Crop/Livestock Farming Systems. (CAB International, Wallingford), 113-130.

Lamba, J.S., Wadhwa, M. and Bakshi, M.P.S. 2002. Effect of feeding naturally fermented urea

wheat straw on the productive and reproductive performance of milch buffaloes. Bubalus bubalis, 89 (2):72-79.

NRC. 1981. Nutrient Requirements of Goats. National Academy of Sciences. National Research

Council, Washington, DC.

Owen, E. and Jayasuriya, M.C.M. 1989. Use of crop residues as animal feeds in developing

countries: A review. Research Development in Agriculture, 6: 124-128.

Patle, B.R. and Tripathi, G. S. 1978. Incorporation of deoiled rice polish in milch buffalo ration.

Indian J. Dairy Sci. 31(4): 388-390.

Preston, T.R., Carcano, C.F., Alvarez, J. and Gutierrez. D. G. 1976. Rice polishings as a

supplement in a sugar cane diet; effect of the level of rice polishing and of  processing the sugar cane by derinding or chopping. Tropical Anim. Prod. 1: 150-162.

Taparia A. L and Sharma, V. V. 1980. Some factors affecting voluntary food intake in buffaloes.

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Snedecor, G. W and Cochran, W. G. 1989. Statistical Methods. 7th ed. The Iowa State University.

Iwa, USA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 1. Ingredient and chemical composition

Attributes

 

Wheat bran

                 Supplements

Rice polish

 

WBC

 

RPC

 

Wheat

Straw

Ingredient(%DM)

 

 

 

 

 

Maize/Wheat

 

 

10

10

 

Wheat bran

 

 

65

-

 

Rice Polish

 

 

-

63

 

Deoiled SBM

 

 

25

27

 

Chemical composition (% DM)

Dry-matter

91.01

90.00

90.1

90.2

92.8

Crude protein

14.05

12.01

22.9

21.7

3.9

Ether extract

5.52

12.51

4.3

8.6

1.6

Ash

6.40

13.96

6.5

11.0

11.2

NDF

45.70

39.96

33.7

29.5

78.5

ADF

14.02

20.08

12.1

15.9

47.8

 

WBC: Wheat bran based supplement, RPC: R ice polish based supplement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 2. Nutrient intake, digestibility and plane of nutrition of buffaloes on WBC or RPC supplements

Variables

                 Supplements

       WBC

 

RPC

SEM

Body Weight, Kg

505.00

498.70

13.14

Intake, kg/d

 

 

 

Dry matter

12.65

12.26

0.30

Roughage

9.56

9.35

0.35

Concentrate

2.87

2.85

0.20

Organic matter

11.09

10.78

0.31

DM Intake

 

 

 

kg W 0.75

119.25

115.98

2.88

%live weight

2.52

2.45

0.08

Digestibility,%

 

 

 

DM

51.38

50.01

2.05

OM

55.52

53.99

2.06

CP

53.67

54.02

1.98

EE

55.67

58.79

2.32

NDF

50.80

48.90

1.97

ADF

41.71

40.03

2.41

Nutrient concentration, %DM

DCP

4.42

4.37

0.31

TDN

50.83

50.08

2.13

ME, Mcal/kg

1.84

1.81

0.07

Nutrient intake, g/Kg W 0.75

DCP

5.23

5.07

0.30

DOM

57.37

55.41

1.99

TDN

60.19

58.16

2.01

ME, Kcal

218

210

-

WBC: Wheat bran based supplement, RPC: Rice polish based supplement

 

 

 

Table 3. Milk composition (%) of buffaloes on WBC or RPC supplements

Variables                                                         Supplements                                       SEM

                                                     WBC                                 RPC

Total solids

17.36

17.30

0.60

Crude protein

3.87

3.75

0.17

Fat

7.45

7.22

0.32

SNF

9.90

10.06

0.26

Ash

8.7

8.8

0.02

WBC: Wheat bran based supplement, RPC: Rice polish based supplement