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Digestion features of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Bubalus bubalis is the Zoological name of the domesticated forms of buffaloes, which humanity breeds effectively from the ancient times. The main buffalo feed is rough, high fiber content feed, not used in the feeding of the Bos taurus species. Based on the analytical review of the published works of leading scientific centers (Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Pakistan and others) there were described in detail the Buffalo digestion features as compared to cattle. It is worth to be noted that the Buffalo intestine is developed significantly better than that of Bos taurus: its length relative to torso is 20–30 times bigger. The volume of Bubalus bubalis rumen is much bigger than in Bos taurus, the Buffalo wall thickness of rumen, reticulum, omasum is also much thicker than in cows, the Buffalo rumen is longer, the villi are wider and thicker, the Buffalo reticulum has also a larger volume than that of Bos taurus. The rumen contractions frequency while eating coarse and succulent fodder during 10 minutes is from 13 to 18 and 20–24 respectively. The small intestine contents is absorbed by 7.6 times faster than the contents of the large intestine. Depending on environmental conditions the lactating cows drink 42 l of water in the fall, in winter – up to 50 l, in spring 82 l and in summer 90.5 l (with maximum of 116.5 l). Bulk diet of the lactating Buffalo cows increases their milk production by 10–11 %.
The Buffalo parotid gland continuously secretes saliva with high intensity – up to 18–20 liters per day, salivation takes place on 4 levels: high – 60–70 ml for 5 minutes, average – 40–50 ml for 5 minutes, low – 15–20 ml.
The chyme reaction in duodenum between the bile and pancreatic ducts is acidic (pH 2.93–4.11), and in jejunum is alkaline (pH 7.94–8.8). The degree of the abomasum fullness with chyme in 3 years old Buffalos ranges from 70 to 1520 ml. During the day the duodenum passes chyme between the bile and pancreatic ducts in the volume of 118.8 l – 859 portions. The muscle work reduces the secretion of juices by 45.4 %, i.e. weakens the evacuation function of the abomasum. The years old Buffalo abomasum mucosa secretes during the day from 14.8 to 23.3 liters of juice; its average acidity varies from 0.12 to 0.44 percent. The small intestine secretion flows continuously, the intestinal juice contains lipase, the intestinal juice reaction is alkaline –
pH 8.10 – 8.91. The Buffalo proventriculus for the first hour allocated 6570 ml of chyme, during the sixth hour – 2528, and within 6 hours – 29 457 ml; duodenum allocated during the first hour 7630 ml, during the sixth – 4080 ml, within 6 hours –
42 345 ml and, finally, juice rennet within 6 hours allocated – 12 888 ml.
Buffalo is undemanding to feed due to the presence of more voluminous stomach compared with cattle (Bos domesticus) and the presence in the Buffalo stomach of greater number of microflora, promoting digestion. This leads to the ability to eating more voluminous cheap feed as marsh hay, chaff, straw, branches and other coarse fodder and food industry waste.
Digestibility of wheat straw fiber in Buffalo is by 30.7 % higher, while in cattle only 24.3 %, with alfalfa fiber – 54.2 % in Buffalo, and 34.6 % in cattle. Buffaloes better absorb other nutrients of feed in comparison with other species of animals. This feature the scientists explain by the fact that the Buffalo rumen contains active simple microorganisms, with total weight much larger than in cattle. The diet and raising system of Buffalo influences the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. One milligram of precloacal composite under different feed rations contained from 17 to 378 thousand ciliates, that is two times more than in cattle. The number of ciliates in 1 ml of the rumen contents is from 54000 to 1010000. The presence of large number ciliates in the buffalos digestive system makes beneficial effect on digestibility of crude protein (88.8 %).
Key words: buffaloes, digestive microflora, secretion of glands, fodder digestibility, Buffalo intestinum features.
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