ब्लॉग पर वापस जाएंBest Cattle Feed for Buffalo: Murrah, Mehsana & Nili-Ravi Nutrition Guide
India is home to the largest buffalo population in the world, and breeds like Murrah, Mehsana, and Nili-Ravi form the backbone of the country's dairy industry. Yet most commercial cattle feeds are formulated primarily for cows, leaving buffalo nutrition as an afterthought. At Nutricana, we recognized this gap early and developed feeds specifically engineered for the unique metabolic demands of high-yielding buffaloes.
How Buffalo Nutrition Differs from Cow Nutrition
Buffaloes have a lower metabolic rate than cows, which means they convert feed into body fat more efficiently. This is why buffalo milk naturally contains 7 to 8 percent fat compared to 3.5 to 4.5 percent in cow milk. However, this also means buffaloes need higher energy-density feeds to sustain both milk volume and fat content. A Murrah buffalo producing 12 litres of milk per day requires approximately 20 percent more metabolizable energy than a Holstein cow producing the same volume.
Murrah Buffalo: Feeding for Peak Performance
The Murrah breed can produce 15 to 20 litres of milk per day under optimal conditions. During peak lactation, feed a minimum of 6 to 8 kilograms of high-quality concentrate alongside 25 to 30 kilograms of green fodder and 5 to 6 kilograms of dry roughage. Nutricana's specially formulated buffalo feed provides 20 to 22 percent crude protein with elevated bypass fat levels to support the Murrah's extraordinary fat-producing capacity.
Mehsana and Nili-Ravi: Breed-Specific Considerations
Mehsana buffaloes, prized in Gujarat, typically yield 8 to 12 litres with fat content exceeding 7 percent. They respond well to feeds rich in cottonseed and mustard cake. Nili-Ravi buffaloes from Punjab require similar energy-dense rations but benefit from additional calcium supplementation due to their larger frame size. Both breeds thrive on Nutricana's balanced formulations that account for these regional and genetic differences.
Optimizing Fat Percentage in Buffalo Milk
Fat percentage is directly influenced by dietary fiber and bypass fat. Maintain a roughage-to-concentrate ratio of at least 50:50 to ensure adequate rumen fiber for fat synthesis. Including 100 to 150 grams of bypass fat supplement daily can increase fat percentage by 0.3 to 0.5 points without altering milk volume. Avoid excess grain feeding, which depresses rumen pH and directly reduces milk fat.
Lactation Stage Feeding Strategy
During early lactation (first 90 days), buffaloes are in negative energy balance and mobilize body reserves. Gradually increase concentrate from 4 kilograms at calving to peak levels by day 45 to 60. During mid-lactation, maintain concentrate levels while ensuring consistent green fodder supply. In late lactation and the dry period, reduce concentrate gradually and focus on body condition recovery using Nutricana's dry period formulation.
Common Buffalo Feeding Mistakes
Many farmers feed buffaloes the same ration as cows, resulting in lower fat percentage and suboptimal yield. Others rely exclusively on wheat straw and mustard cake, which lacks the mineral balance needed for sustained production. Switching to a scientifically formulated buffalo feed from Nutricana addresses both issues while simplifying the farmer's feeding program.
