EFFECT OF GRADED SUPPLEMENTATION OF CALCIUM SALTS OF PALM FATTY ACIDS ON LACTATION PERFORMANCE OF NILI RAVI BUFFALOES

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of graded amount of calcium salts of palm fatty acids (Ca-PFA) supplementation on dry matter intake, milk yield, milk fat, and milk fatty acid profile in lactating buffalo. Twelve multiparous early-lactating buffaloes were arranged in a 4 × 4 Latin-square design with a period length of 21 day. The 4 treatments were basal diet with supplementation of 0, 200, 400, and 600 g of Ca-PFA per day. The 3.5% fat-corrected milk yield, milk fat content, and milk fat yield showed a quadratic function with a transient maximumat 400 g/d of supplemental level. The concentration and yield of C16:0 and C18:0 increased linearly, whereas concentration of C16:1 and C18:2 passed a transient maximum and afterward decreased upon intake of Ca-PFA. The C16:0 yield tended to increase linearly, whereas C16:1 yield showed a quadratic function with increasing Ca-PFA intake. Cumulatively, increasing the Ca-PFA supplementation decreased the content and yield of de novo milk FA by 21.7% and increased preformed milk FA by approximately 10.0%. In conclusion, under the current feeding scheme, the elevated Ca-PFA intake increased milk and milk fat yields and the responses were maximal at 400 g/dof Ca-PFA supplemental level.