Methane Production on Feeding Jowar Fodder Based Ration in Buffalo Calves

Two groups of buffalo calves, male and female (1 to 1.5 yrs.242 and 281.66 kg b.wt.) were fed green jowar ad lib. and one kg concentrate mixture (CP 19.21%, TDN 65%). Average DM intake in female and male buffalo calves was 5.89±0.05 and 6.09±0.28 kg/day and the value for DMI kg/100 kg body weight in respective animals was 2.16±0.07 and 2.52±0.10 kg. However, variation between female and male groups was not significant. Overall average OM, CF and CP intake was 5.41±0.11, 1.29±0.05 and 0.50±0.01 and those of respective digestible nutrients was 3.03±0.10,0.74±0.14 and 0.32±0.01. Average intake of gross energy and digestible energy in female and male calves was 24.846 and 14.486 Meal/day. Methane production (g/day) was higher in male calves (61.52±8.24) than in female calves (54.38±4.60), however, the difference between the groups was not significant. It was positively correlated (P<0.05) with CFI, CPI, DDMI and DCFI. The relation was highly significant (at 2% level) with digestible organic matter and crude protein. Methane energy loss was amounted to be 2–4% of GE and 4–7% of DE. This study indicated that energy loss through methane was only 2–4% of GE in buffaloes fed on green jowar as main fodder.