Srinivas Kumar, D(MAJOR)Raja Kishore, KNaga Raja Kumari, KESHWAR, NUTI2019-07-062019-07-062018-12http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810113148THESESIn 4 x 4 LSD, four buffalo bulls were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments (T1 to T4) comprising of green fodder viz. Super Napier, paddy straw and concentrate mixture. A concentrate mixture with 20% CP is prepared by using conventional feed ingredients and is used as control (T1). In this concentrate mixture, palm kernel meal is incorporated at 10 (T2), 15 (T3) and 20 (T4) percent level. All the concentrate mixtures were made iso-nitrogenous. All the four diets are evaluated for their effect on in vitro digestibility, rumen fermentation pattern, mineral balances and nutrient utilization in buffalo bulls. The in vitro studies conducted using rumen liquor of buffalo bulls revealed that inclusion of PKM at 10, 15 or 20% level in the concentrate mixture had no effect (P>0.05) on in vitro digestibility (%) of DM, OM and CP as compared to the control. Rumen fermentation studies conducted in fistulated buffalo bulls revealed that rumen pH values were highest at 0 h and declined to minimum by 4 h post feeding, while TVFA, NH3-N, and N fractions reached peak at 4 h post feeding and later followed a decreasing trend in all the treatments. The present study indicated that inclusion of PKM at varying levels in the concentrate mixture had no significant effect (P>0.05) on rumen pH, TVFA concentration, ammonia N, total N, TCA insoluble protein N, residual N and food and protozoal N concentration in buffalo bulls as compared to the control. The digestibility coefficients (%) of gross nutrients and fibre fractions decreased linearly from T1 to T4 with increased levels of inclusion of PKM from 0 to 20% level in the concentrate mixtures but the differences between treatments were not statistically significant (P>0.05). All the buffalo bulls were in positive N, Ca and P balance. Further, inclusion of PKM at varying levels in the concentrate mixture had no significant effect (P>0.05) on N, Ca and P retentions expressed either as g/d or as % intake or as % absorbed. The average DMI of buffalo bulls expressed as kg/d or as % BW was comparable among the treatments. Inclusion of PKM at varying levels in the concentrate mixture had no significant effect (P>0.05) on DCP contents expressed as % in the diet consumed or as kg/d. However, the TDN contents expressed as % in the diet consumed or as kg/d decreased (P<0.05) with increased levels of inclusion of PKM from 0 to 20% level in the concentrate mixtures. The estimated DE and ME intakes (M cal/d) also followed the similar trend. Further, the DCP, TDN and ME intakes per kg W0.75 were similar among the treatments and were higher than the values recommended by ICAR (2013) standards. Inclusion of palm kernel meal at 10, 15 and 20% level in the concentrate mixtures resulted in decreased feed cost by 0.73, 1.09 and 1.46 as compared to the control. Based on the results of the present study, it is concluded that palm kernel meal can be included up to 20% level in the concentrate mixture without any adverse effects on nutrient utilization in buffalo bulls.ennullThesis