Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to compare the efficiency of feed utilization in buffaloes and cattle. Four swamp buffaloes and four Holstein cows for experiment 1, and six swamp buffaloes and six Holstein cows for experiment 2, both from university farm of Tsukuba were employed in the present study. They were fed roughage alone, either orchardgrass hay or sugar cane top in experiment 1, and rice straw or orchardgrass hay in experiment 2. The consumption of sugar cane top was greater than that of orchardgrass hay by both species in experiment 1, though no difference was found between species. On the other hand, the consumption of orchardgrass hay was significantly greater than that of rice straw by both species, and cattle took more feed than buffaloes in experiment 2. No significant difference was found between the two species of animal in digestibility of orchardgrass hay or sugar cane top. Higher digestibility of rice straw in buffaloes than in cattle was observed in experiment 2, though there was no difference between species in the case of feeding on orchardgrass hay where the animals seemed to be kept at a sufficient level of nutrition. From the results obtained, it may be fair to conclude that buffaloes show better digestion of low quality roughage than cattle when the animals are kept in under nutritional condition.
