EFFECT OF ZINC OR/AND MANGANESE METHIONINE SUPPLEMENTS ON PERFORMANCE OF LACTATING BUFFALOES .

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Animal Production Research Institute, Agric. Res. Center

2 Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of adding chelated  zinc methionine  or / and manganese methionine  on the digestibility coefficients, nutritive value, some ruminal and blood parameters, milk yield and composition of  lactating buffaloes.. Sixteen lactating buffaloes at the last three months of pregnancy were divided into four similar groups . Animals were fed according to Ghoneim (1964) Feeding standard. The lactating buffaloes  were fed on the following rations: The control group was fed concentrate feed mixture, berseem hay (Trifolium alexandrinum) and  rice straw without  minerals supplementation. .The 1st tested  group was fed  the control ration + 40mg zinc methionine  /kg DMI). The 2nd tested group was fed control ration + 40mg manganese methionine  /kg DMI). The 3rd  group  was fed the control ration + 40mg zinc methionine  + 40mg manganese methionine  /kg DMI). All groups were fed from about three months before the expected calving date  up to  105 days of  lactation . Results indicated that the addition of both chelated zinc and manganese methionine  improved  DM, OM, CP, CF, EE and NFE digestibilities and feeding values ( TDN and DCP) . Also ,  chelated zinc , manganese and zinc plus manganese supplements tended to reduce ammonia –N ,but increase TVFA’s , improved  feed conversion and increase  milk yield. Moreover,  chelated zinc methionine and manganese methionine supplementation increase  serum total protein, albumin and  globulin, but reduced the concentration of urea in blood serum. From the obtained results. It could be concluded that  Zn-Met plus Mn-Met supplementation could be economically and successfully used for lactating buffaloes to improve digestibility’s, feeding values, feed efficiency, milk production and  economical efficiency .

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