Enhancement of performance of farmed buffaloes pasture management and feed supplementation in Sabah, Malaysia

A buffalo-breeding farm run on an extensive grazing system without feed supplementation was selected for this study. Farm records between 2004 and 2011 were analysed for selected parameters, particularly calving rate, calving interval, average daily gain of calves and calf mortality. Following the a...

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Main Authors: Saad, Mohd Zamri, Kasim, Azhar, Abu Bakar @ Zakaria, Md Zuki, Abdullah, Punimin, Abu Hassim, Hasliza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2017
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/58347/1/08%20JTAS%20Vol%2040%20%284%29%20Nov%202017_0855-2016_pg553-564.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/58347/
http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JTAS%20Vol.%2040%20(4)%20Nov.%202017/08%20JTAS%20Vol%2040%20(4)%20Nov%202017_0855-2016_pg553-564.pdf
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spelling my.upm.eprints.583472018-01-25T10:00:35Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/58347/ Enhancement of performance of farmed buffaloes pasture management and feed supplementation in Sabah, Malaysia Saad, Mohd Zamri Kasim, Azhar Abu Bakar @ Zakaria, Md Zuki Abdullah, Punimin Abu Hassim, Hasliza A buffalo-breeding farm run on an extensive grazing system without feed supplementation was selected for this study. Farm records between 2004 and 2011 were analysed for selected parameters, particularly calving rate, calving interval, average daily gain of calves and calf mortality. Following the analysis, interventions were implemented in January 2012, which included increase in pasture area from 399 to 441 acres followed by application of organic fertiliser. The selected breeder buffaloes were prepared for breeding by supplementing palm kernel cake-based feed at the rate of 1.5 kg/animal/day for two weeks before breeder males were introduced at the rate of one male to 20 females. Weaning age was reduced from six to three months. Prior to the intervention, proximate analysis of pasture revealed 7.6% crude protein content; approximately 79% of breeder buffaloes were found with a body score of >3; the average annual calving rate was 22%; the calving interval was 24±11.2 months; average daily gain of calves was 0.89±0.21 kg; the average birth weight was 28.31±3.26 kg; and calf mortality was 26.8±7.0%. Following intervention, proximate analysis of grass revealed 12% crude protein content. With feed supplementation, the percentage of breeder females with a body score of >3 increased to 95%, leading to an average annual calving rate of 50%. Average birth weight was significantly (p<0.05) improved to 35.4±5.39 kg, while the average daily gain was 0.95±0.32 kg. Subsequently, the average calving interval was reduced to 15.2±9.2 months. Similarly, calf mortality rate was significantly (p<0.05) reduced to 17.6±4.7%. In conclusion, improved management, particularly of pasture and feeding, significantly enhanced the performance of farmed buffaloes. Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2017 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/58347/1/08%20JTAS%20Vol%2040%20%284%29%20Nov%202017_0855-2016_pg553-564.pdf Saad, Mohd Zamri and Kasim, Azhar and Abu Bakar @ Zakaria, Md Zuki and Abdullah, Punimin and Abu Hassim, Hasliza (2017) Enhancement of performance of farmed buffaloes pasture management and feed supplementation in Sabah, Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, 40 (4). pp. 553-564. ISSN 1511-3701; ESSN: 2231-8542 http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JTAS%20Vol.%2040%20(4)%20Nov.%202017/08%20JTAS%20Vol%2040%20(4)%20Nov%202017_0855-2016_pg553-564.pdf
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
building UPM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Putra Malaysia
content_source UPM Institutional Repository
url_provider http://psasir.upm.edu.my/
language English
description A buffalo-breeding farm run on an extensive grazing system without feed supplementation was selected for this study. Farm records between 2004 and 2011 were analysed for selected parameters, particularly calving rate, calving interval, average daily gain of calves and calf mortality. Following the analysis, interventions were implemented in January 2012, which included increase in pasture area from 399 to 441 acres followed by application of organic fertiliser. The selected breeder buffaloes were prepared for breeding by supplementing palm kernel cake-based feed at the rate of 1.5 kg/animal/day for two weeks before breeder males were introduced at the rate of one male to 20 females. Weaning age was reduced from six to three months. Prior to the intervention, proximate analysis of pasture revealed 7.6% crude protein content; approximately 79% of breeder buffaloes were found with a body score of >3; the average annual calving rate was 22%; the calving interval was 24±11.2 months; average daily gain of calves was 0.89±0.21 kg; the average birth weight was 28.31±3.26 kg; and calf mortality was 26.8±7.0%. Following intervention, proximate analysis of grass revealed 12% crude protein content. With feed supplementation, the percentage of breeder females with a body score of >3 increased to 95%, leading to an average annual calving rate of 50%. Average birth weight was significantly (p<0.05) improved to 35.4±5.39 kg, while the average daily gain was 0.95±0.32 kg. Subsequently, the average calving interval was reduced to 15.2±9.2 months. Similarly, calf mortality rate was significantly (p<0.05) reduced to 17.6±4.7%. In conclusion, improved management, particularly of pasture and feeding, significantly enhanced the performance of farmed buffaloes.
format Article
author Saad, Mohd Zamri
Kasim, Azhar
Abu Bakar @ Zakaria, Md Zuki
Abdullah, Punimin
Abu Hassim, Hasliza
spellingShingle Saad, Mohd Zamri
Kasim, Azhar
Abu Bakar @ Zakaria, Md Zuki
Abdullah, Punimin
Abu Hassim, Hasliza
Enhancement of performance of farmed buffaloes pasture management and feed supplementation in Sabah, Malaysia
author_facet Saad, Mohd Zamri
Kasim, Azhar
Abu Bakar @ Zakaria, Md Zuki
Abdullah, Punimin
Abu Hassim, Hasliza
author_sort Saad, Mohd Zamri
title Enhancement of performance of farmed buffaloes pasture management and feed supplementation in Sabah, Malaysia
title_short Enhancement of performance of farmed buffaloes pasture management and feed supplementation in Sabah, Malaysia
title_full Enhancement of performance of farmed buffaloes pasture management and feed supplementation in Sabah, Malaysia
title_fullStr Enhancement of performance of farmed buffaloes pasture management and feed supplementation in Sabah, Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Enhancement of performance of farmed buffaloes pasture management and feed supplementation in Sabah, Malaysia
title_sort enhancement of performance of farmed buffaloes pasture management and feed supplementation in sabah, malaysia
publisher Universiti Putra Malaysia Press
publishDate 2017
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/58347/1/08%20JTAS%20Vol%2040%20%284%29%20Nov%202017_0855-2016_pg553-564.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/58347/
http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JTAS%20Vol.%2040%20(4)%20Nov.%202017/08%20JTAS%20Vol%2040%20(4)%20Nov%202017_0855-2016_pg553-564.pdf
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