Overcoming the Challenges of Common Reproductive Disorders in Buffaloes by Dietary Supplementation of Mineral Mixture and Prill Fat under Field Conditions: Success Story

Introduction

This is the story of adapted village under Farmers FIRST project  “Kathura” (Khelgao) of district Sonipat (Haryana), I have visited the village during post COVID-19 period and found most of buffaloes suffered from reproductive disorders including repeat breeding, anestrous, silent heat and Sterility etc. When, I enquired about the root cause of these problems from the villagers then I found major area of crop land covered by the sodic soil which produced the water logged condition in that region. Due to sodic soil and water logged condition the survivability of any fodder crop was very difficult so, the poor availability of the green fodder for the better reproductive health and production of the buffaloes. It leads to deficiency of the essential minerals, vitamins and antioxidants that are main cause of reproductive disorders. Vitamins are very essential nutrient that required for many metabolic processes and enables the buffaloes to utilize other nutrients.

In buffaloes it is essential to supply the fat soluble vitamins i.e. vitamin A, D and E because rumen bacteria synthesize the water soluble vitamins B and K to meet the animal requirements. The minerals are participated in catalyzing different chemical reactions and formation of the antioxidants enzymes. So, I needed to fulfill the requirement of minerals by supplemented the mineral mixture powder with dose rate of 100gm per day and table (common) salt 30 gm per day. I also found buffaloes were in negative energy balance due to poor availability of the green fodder to meet the required energy for better productive performance. To maintain the energy status of the buffaloes I provided one kilogram packet of bypass prill fat power to the buffalo farmers. They were supplemented prill fat as a dense energy source with dose rate of 50-60 gm per day.

Result

For this experiment, I selected 15 animals from Kathura” village adopted under Farmer FIRST project and dietary supplemented with mineral mixture and prill fat. After supplementation I observed the fruitful effects in the form of better growth of udder, timely expulsion of placenta and increase in milk yield. Besides, there was reduced reproductive incidence and post partum problems also improved the conception rate and immunity status of buffaloes. The prill fat powder was proven to be panacea for all those under nourished buffaloes that were being caused by non availability of green fodder due to sodic soil and water logging conditions.  Based on proper supplementation I got success to maintain the productive performance of buffaloes in Kathura village of district Sonipat after COVID- 19.

Conclusion

Based on the results obtained it can be concluded that supplementation of Prill fat and mineral mixture helped in maintaining the mineral status and productive performance of the buffaloes. So I suggest Prill fat powder and mineral mixture supplementation to prevent the reproductive problems, lower milk yield and improve the immunity status of buffaloes under field conditions.