COMPARISON OF EXTENSIVE OR SEMI-INTENSIVE FEEDING FOR ANATOLIAN WATER BUFFALO

Abstract

This study has been carried out to determine the effects of extensive or semi-intensive feeding on dry matter intake and milk composition in Anatolian water buffalo. Buffaloes are taken into trial in the 1 st- 2 nd months of their lactation. The buffaloes are divided into 2 groups, an extansive group (A) and a semi-intensive group (B) each group consisting of 12 buffaloes. Compared to the A group, the B group consumed more total dry matter (P<0.05; 13.17 vs. 11.12 kg day-1 ) and produced more milk day-1 (P<0.05; 7.34 vs 4.42 kg day-1). In the milk samples which is taken from the group A has higher (P<0.05) milk fat percentage than group B (milk fat=8.03 and 5.80 %, respectively). The somatic cell count (SCC) ( 44.7 and 60.3 xlog10 mL-1), SNF (10.29 and 10.18 %) and protein percentages of milk (4.95 and 4.96 %) are similar for both groups