Effect of dietary calcium on the production performance in the lactating water buffalo

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of dietary calcium on the production performance in the lactating water buffalo.A total of 12 water buffaloes with similar parity,milking date and milking yield were randomly divided into 4 groups,each group including 3 animals.The Latin square design was used,and the 4 group animal was subjected into 0.47,0.62,0.78 and 0.93% Ca(DM base),with the other nutrition parameter kept the same,except for the P was 0.50% based on dry matter intake.Four periods and 21 days for each period including 7 days for adaptation were conducted in the present study.The results showed that the average daily milk yield was not significant difference among 4 groups(P0.05),but 0.78% Ca(DM base) treatment had biggest milk yields,with 5.4%,5.5% and 3.9% higher than the 0.47,0.62 and 0.93% Ca(DM base),respectively.The milk content was non-significant differences among different calcium content diet treatment.In addition,the blood plasma contents of calcium were significant differences among different dietary calcium contents(P0.05).Blood Parathyroid hormone and 1,25-(OH)2 Vit D decreased significantly with the diet calcium content increase(P0.05).Therefore,the 0.78% Ca(DM base) for the water buffalo diets can increase the milk production.