Evaluation of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) in predicting the nutrient utilization and milk production of buffaloes

Abstract

The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System was used to predict the nutrient utilization and milk production of buffaloes under complete confinement system of management. There were 243 lactation records involving the age of the animals, live weight, body condition score (BCS), milk production, % milk fat, % milk protein; climatic conditions and the actual feed ration. Simulation results showed that age, number of lactation, body weight and calving interval had no direct effect on the actual milk production and nutrient utilization of the dairy buffaloes. Significantly higher metabolizable energy (ME) and metabolizable protein (MP) allowable milk were predicted by the model compared to the actual milk production of the buffaloes. Using the actual ration, the model predicted 91 days for the buffaloes to gain one BCS while 70 days was needed when the CNCPS feed library is used. The model predicted significantly lower DMI (12.8 vs. I6kg/d) and forage intake (9.10 vs. I0.3 kg/d) with a difference of 21 % and 16 % than the actual ration. Significantly lower ME, (33.85 vs. 36.13 Mcal/ d) was supplied by the actual ration but on the contrary, the MP supply (1,655 vs. 1,556 g/d) was higher than the CNCPS feed library. Significantly higher ME, MP and mineral (Ca, P, and K) balances were observed from the two rations indicating that more nutrients were supplied than what is required by the dairy buffaloes. The estimated manure and urine excretions were not significantly affected by the model predictions.

Keywords

• Cornell net carbohydrates, Protein system, Carabao, Dry matter intake, Body, Condition score, Metabolizable energy, Protein allowable milk.