A fresh Murrah buffalo going off feed
Kavita keeps four Murrah buffaloes in Jhajjar. Her best animal, in the third week of her third lactation, gives 11 L/day. The ration is 9 kg of a home mix (maize 45%, mustard cake 30%, wheat bran 25%) plus wheat straw offered free-choice (about 15 kg) and no green fodder, because her berseem was delayed by a late paddy harvest. Over three days the buffalo has gone off feed, rumination has fallen to about 30 chews per bolus, dung is loose and contains undigested grain, and milk has dropped to 9.5 L. Rectal temperature is 38.6°C, and there is no bloat. She has responded by adding 1 kg more concentrate and one handful of common salt. Concentrate costs ₹30/kg, milk sells at ₹55/L, berseem will be ready in 12 days, and mineral mixture costs ₹100/kg.
1. Diagnose the problem, explain why her response will worsen it, and give the corrected ration in kg per day with reasoning.
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Diagnosis: subacute ruminal acidosis. She feeds 9 kg of a rapidly fermented, high-starch, high-oil concentrate with about 15 kg wheat straw and no green fodder. Straw supplies fibre but almost no protein and is poorly digestible, so the rumen receives a heavy concentrate load with too little effective fibre and no buffering from green fodder. Undigested grain in dung, reduced rumination and a 1.5 L milk drop fit this picture; the normal temperature argues against infection. Adding concentrate and salt makes it worse - salt does not buffer the rumen.
Corrected ration per day:
- Concentrate reduced to about 6 kg, split into 3-4 feeds.
- Sodium bicarbonate 100-150 g.
- Mineral mixture 100 g and common salt 50 g.
- Green fodder introduced gradually to 10-15 kg now, rising to 20-25 kg once berseem is ready.
- Straw 5-6 kg retained for fibre.
When berseem is available, 20-25 kg green plus 4-5 kg concentrate will comfortably support 10-11 L.
2. She asks whether to add concentrate or wait for berseem over the next 12 days. Answer with a calculation and state your assumptions.
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Assumption: berseem valued at ₹2/kg; milk at ₹55/L; concentrate at ₹30/kg.
Extra concentrate. One kg costs ₹30 and may give about 0.6 L (₹33), a margin of about ₹3, while worsening acidosis and risking a further milk drop and a vet bill. A poor buy.
Berseem. 20 kg at ₹2/kg costs ₹40 and can replace about 1.5 kg concentrate (₹45), while supplying protein, fibre and buffering. The apparent saving is small, but it protects rumen function and avoids the bigger loss.
Recommendation. Do not increase concentrate. Bridge the 12 days with straw, a small amount of extra mustard cake for protein, and a buffer; then switch gradually to berseem. If the berseem is home-grown and its market value is ignored, the case for green fodder is even stronger.
3. What health and breeding actions should be scheduled from calving to conception?
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First two weeks: check the placenta and watch for foul uterine discharge (metritis); monitor feed intake and temperature.
Weeks 3-4: deworm with a safe anthelmintic, continue mineral mixture and salt, and check body condition - over-conditioned buffaloes conceive poorly.
Vaccination: follow the FMD schedule, and HS/BQ before the monsoon.
Breeding: first AI at 60-90 days after calving, not earlier, when involution is incomplete. Serve only on a clear heat with good conception; if no heat by 90 days, examine for anestrus and metritis.
Records: keep calving, heat and AI dates. This is the employability skill that turns a good animal into a profitable one.