Hematology and Milk Production of Murrah Buffaloes with Local Forage-Based Feeding in Kapau Village, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Buffalo livestock has the potential to be developed because it has high economic value. Murrah buffalo is one of the milk-producing livestock with a total production that the average milk production for 294 days of lactation is 1.76 kg per lactation. Buffalo milk has an advantage 6-8% fat and 4-8% protein compared to 3-4% fat and protein content in cow's milk. Generally, the maintenance of dairy buffalo is still traditional, so the productivity of Murrah buffalo is still not optimal. This study aims to improve the health of Murrah buffalo by providing feed based on local forages to increase milk production. This research is an experimental study with the Latin Square Design (LSD), using four female Murrah buffaloes as research samples with the following feeding: P1 = basal feed (10% of body weight); P2= 30% sweet potato leaves + 30% cassava leaves + 40% of P1 + urea saka block (USB); P3 = 40% sweet potato leaves + 40% cassava leaves + 20% P1 +USB; P4 = 50% sweet potato leaves + 50% cassava leaves + USB. The parameters measured in this study were the hematology (erythrocytes, leukocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit) of Murrah buffalo. The results obtained in sequential studies are as follows: Erythrocytes (3.94 -5.30 x10 6 / µL), Leukocytes (6.6 -9.8 x10 3 /µL), Hemoglobin (8.9 -9.8 g/dL) Hematocrit (21.2 -24.2%) and milk production (3.75 -5.95 kg/head/day). From the results of the study, it was found that feeding 50% sweet potato leaves, 50% cassava leaves, and USB can increase milk production and improve the health of Murrah buffaloes through their hematological profile, where the better hematological levels indicate that the transportation process of the feed nutrients provided will be better so that the milk biosynthesis process in the mammary glands will increase.