Comparison of feeding systems for the fattening of buffaloes

SAMPEDRO, D.; BARBERA, P.; CRUDELI, G.; KONRAD, J.L; BERECOECHEA, F.

Cartagena de Indias

Congreso; 11th World Buffalo Congress; 2016

Asociación Colombiana de Criadores de Búfalos

In native grasslands of northeast of Argentina, the buffalo reach weights of slaughter with 500 kg at 30 months of age. The purpose is expediting such process at 18 month. For this objective, we compare two feeding systems, T1) Feedlot, T2) Paddocks with feeders of self-consumption, and his influence over live weight gain (LWG), back fat thickness (BFT) and rib eye area (REA). From July 27 to September 28, 2015. Twenty six buffaloes with 337 kg, were distributed randomly in 3 pens of 80 m2 and in 2 paddocks by 0.79 and 0.73 ha. The initial forage mass was 1.622 and 2.325 kg DM/ha, and the stocking rate was 7.6 and 11 buffaloes/ha. In T2, fed a ration with 83% whole corn and 17 % soybean pellet, CP: 14 %, EM: 3 Mcal/kg DM. In feedlot, after an habituation period, the diet was 12% rice straw, 73% whole corn and 15% soybean pellet, CP: 13%, EM: 2,93 Mcal/Kg DM. BFT and REA were determined by ultrasound in 18 buffaloes taken at random by treatment. Data were evaluated by ANVA, and averages for LWG, BFT and REA were compared with Tukey test (p≤0.05). The intake was in T1 and T2 7.8 and 6.4 kg DM/head/day, without measuring the consumption of grass. The buffaloes in T2 had a weight gain significantly higher than T1, 1.585 vs. 1.137 kg/head/day. Differences in BFT and REA were not significant, 5.8 mm, 58 cm2 for T1 and 6 mm and 60 cm2 for T2. In both feeding systems is reached the fattening of the buffalo. The paddocks with self-consumption feeders were more efficient in terms of gain weight than the feedlot, possibly due to a faster adaptation period and higher animal comfort.