Comparative evaluation of different methods for determing nutrient digestibility in buffaloes

Abstract

Ten digestion experiments were conducted in two phases using 6 adult buffaloes (3 fistulated male and 3 female) in each method. In each phase, five methods viz., conventional (a), lignin (b), chromic oxide (Cr2O3) (c), nylon bag (d) and in-vitro (e) were used for the determination of feed digestibility. In phase - I, the animals were fed concentrate mixture alongwith ad libitum feeding of wheat bhusa and in phase - II, concentrate mixture and Lucerne green (Medicago sativa L.) were fed alongwith ad libitum feeding of wheat bhusa. The overall digestibilities of all the feed constituents were slightly higher by conventional method than lignin. In both the methods, the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre and neutral detergent fibre were significantly (P<0.01) lower than Cr2O3 method. Nitrogen-free extract and total carbohydrate digestibility were apparently higher in Cr2O3 than other methods. The average digestibility of all the constituents were at per in methods d and e, but were significantly lower (P<0.01) than the values found in rest of the groups.