Production efficiency of swamp buffaloes and Mehsana river buffaloes

อังกฤษ

Swamp buffaloes;Mehsana river buffaloes;Bubalus bubalis;Aquatic plants;Production efficiency;Grazing;Thailand

This study investigated the production efficiency of swamp buffaloes and Mehsana river buffaloes under ordinary Thai conditions. The results showed that swamp buffaloes raised under grazing with the roughage supplementation every morning and evening had significantly higher average weight gain and growth than other groups (P GT 0.01), while the heart girth and body length of Swamp buffaloes were similar (P GT 0.05). However, the Mehsana river buffaloes raised under grazing and under grazing with roughage supplementation every morning and evening gained more weight and had higher growth than buffaloes raised in the pen because they could eat more feed. This study also investigated the production efficiency of Swamp buffaloes under river basin conditions. The results showed that buffaloes grazing on land made higher gains in weight on average than those grazing on land and in water or those grazing in water, but the average heart girths and body heights of all groups were close (P GT 0.05). Swamp buffaloes grazing on land had higher average higher weight gain and growth because the usual aquatic plants on which the buffaloes fed, such as water snowflake and tape grass, were low in dry matter.

[1] Wanna Marchiew (Rajamangala University of Technology Isan. Surin Campus, Surin (Thailand))
[2] Pisai Wongpanich (Department of Livestock Development, Bangkok (Thailand). Mahasarakham Livestock Research and Testing Station)
[3] Sorachai Kongsuk (Department of Livestock Development, Bangkok (Thailand). Nakhon Phanom Livestock Research and Testing Station)