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Present study examined the effect of feeding betaine hydrochloride (BH) and bypass fat (BF) in 24 early lactating buffaloes during May to July, 2018 in Nadiad district of Gujarat state. Buffaloes (30-35 days in milk) yielding 10-12 kg milk/d were divided into three groups of eight each based on milk yield, fat% and stage of lactation. Buffaloes in T 1 group (control) were fed basal ration. In addition to basal ration, buffaloes in T 2 group were fed daily 30 g BH + 100 g buffer; while buffaloes in T 3 group were fed daily 30 g BH + 100 g buffer + 100 g BF for 60 days. Average thermal humidity index was 80.10 at 14:00 hr during the trial period. Study revealed that DMI improved (P=0.011) in T 3 group as compared to control. Non-significant difference in milk yield was observed among the groups; however, reduction in milk yield was lower in T 2 & T 3 groups, as compared to control. Milk fat improved by 3.2% and 6.2% (P=0.002) in T 2 and T 3 groups, respectively. Rectal temperature (102.8, 102.7 vs 103.6 °F), respiration rate (46.0, 45.1 vs 60.1 breath/min.) and pulse rate (61.2, 58.5 vs 72.9 pulse/min.) at 14:00 hr were significantly (P<0.01) lower in buffaloes under T 2 and T 3 group as compared to T 1 group. Average net daily income was increased by Rs. 36.02 and 47.43 in T 2 and T 3 group, respectively as compared to control.

Twenty crossbred cows (HF × Jersey) yielding 18-20 kg milk/d were divided into two groups of ten each based on milk yield, fat% and stage of lactation during hot summer months. The animals in both the groups were fed basal diet comprising 9.0 kg concentrates, 25.0 kg green fodder and 3.5 kg dry fodder. In addition to basal diet, animals in experimental group were supplemented with betaine hydrochloride @ 30 g/d and buffer @ 100 g/d for 90 d. The average temperature-humidity index was 71.78 and 78.12 at 09: 00 and 14: 00 h, respectively. Study revealed that betaine supplementation improved (P<0.01) DMI and milk yield by 8.79 and 10.55% in cows as compared to control group. Average fat (3.70% vs. 3.96%; P<0.01) and SNF (8.54% vs. 8.63%; P<0.01) contents were also higher in experimental group. Lower DMI (14.2 and 15.7 kg/d) and milk yield (15.4 and 17.4 kg/) were observed in both the groups when there was higher THI (83.3) during the study. Rectal temperature (103.4 vs. 102.6ºF), respiration rate (63.5 vs. 45.5/min.) and pulse rate (76.8 vs. 60.8/min.) at 14: 00 h were lower (P<0.05) in cows supplemented with betaine as compared to control group. The net daily income was higher bỳ 20.05 (P<0.05) in experimental group as compared to control. Therefore, supplementation of betaine hydrochloride and buffer in the ration of dairy cows during heat stress period not only maintained DMI and milk yield but also improved net daily income of dairy farmers in tropical conditions of India.

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