Effect of Feeding Processed Sweet Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolour (L) Moench) Bagasse based Total Mixed Ration on Performance of Graded Murrah Buffaloes

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolour (L.) moench) bagasse (SSB), a by-product obtained after juice extraction from the stalks of sweet sorghum was used as a sole roughage in the total mixed ration (TMR) at 50 per cent level and processed in to SSB chopped plus concentrate (SSBC), mash (SSBM) and expander extruder pellets (SSBP) and compared with sorghum straw (SS) based TMR in mash form (SSM). The effect of feeding processed TMR on feed intake, nutrients digestibility, milk and milk constituent’s yield and cost of milk production was studied in 24 lactating graded Murrah buffaloes divided into four groups (average of 3.0 lactations and 450 kg body weight) in a complete randomized design and fed the experimental rations for a period of 150 days. The dry matter (DM) intake (kg/d), digestibilities of DM, organic matter, crude protein and nitrogen free extract and milk yield (kg/d) and total solids, solids not fat, milk fat and protein yield (g/d) were higher (P < 0.05) in buffaloes fed SSBP ration while, comparable among SSBC, SSBM and SSM rations. The feed conversion ratio (kg/kg milk yield) and cost of feed per kg milk yield were lower (P < 0.05) for SSBP ration and higher (P < 0.05) for SSM ration. The present study indicated that replacement of SS with SSB in TMR decreased the cost of milk production by 22 % in buffaloes. Further, feeding of SSB based TMR in the form of expander-extruder pellets increased the milk production by 20% in buffaloes.