Bulgarian and Brazilian buffaloes given milk enhancer in their first three months of lactation can provide higher milk production, preliminary results of a study showed.

The study, “Effects of Milk Enhancer in Primiparous Dairy Buffaloes”, was conducted to evaluate the effects of giving milk enhancer to dairy buffaloes and to determine its benefits in daily ration of animals.

The researchers, led by Jeffrey Santos, PCC science research assistant, used a total of 16 primiparous and near-calving buffaloes which comprised eight Bulgarian Murrah and eight Brazilian Murrah buffaloes in the feeding trial. The animals were from the PCC Gene Pool farm.

In the field of human obstetrics, primiparous means a woman due to give birth to her first child.

“This study was intended to determine the possibility that the milk enhancer can be considered and included as one of the standard feedstuffs for dairy buffaloes,” Santos said.

Based on the monthly milk production of the experimental buffaloes, it was shown in Santos’ study that milk enhancer increased the milk yield by 63.89% for the Bulgarian buffaloes and by 55.02% for the Brazilian.

In the experimental method, the animals were divided into two breed groups. Each breed group was subjected to two treatments with T1 as a control (no feed enhancer) and T2 for the group with feed enhancer. Each treatment group was composed of four Bulgarian and four Brazilian buffaloes and each animal served as an individual replicate.

All the experimental buffaloes were nurtured for three months in an intensive management system wherein they were situated in a free-stall barn in group with the lactating cows. They were driven to the exercise area every after milking.

Their daily milk yield was recorded and milk samples were collected monthly for the evaluation of the milk composition and somatic cell count.

As part of the study, health management was included in which all the experimental buffaloes were monitored daily for any morbidity cases specifically the incidence of mastitis. Proper hygiene and sanitation were also regularly practiced at the barn and milking parlor.

In terms of the feeding management, all the animals were given lactation ration such as urea-treated rice straw, silage, and dairy buffalo concentrate pellets. The milk enhancer was top-dressed during the feeding of concentrates while the experimental animals were being milked at the parlor.

They were given 20 grams per head which started immediately after calving up to 90 days or three months of lactation. The control group, on the other hand, was given a regular ration developed at the Gene Pool.

Data gathered encompassed the ration given to the buffaloes, animal performance such as its milk yield and composition.

“We presupposed that if the milk production of dairy buffaloes will be enhanced, dairy farmers will surely benefit a lot. It will provide additional income and profit to the rural farming families,” Santos said.

With the positive results of the initial study, the research team will have a follow-up study to cover and determine the data on the nutrient intake, milk composition, post-partum reproductive performance of dairy buffaloes, and a simple cost analysis.