Question

What would be the approx. dry matter requirement per day for Surti buffalo (300 kg body weight) for maintenance purpose?

• A. 18 kg
• B. 16 kg
• C. 12 kg
• D. 08 kg

Hint:

Standard feed intake rule:
Cattle consume about 0% of their body weight in dry matter daily.
Buffaloes have a slightly higher capacity, consuming about 5% of their body weight.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Ruminants require a certain amount of dry matter (DM) daily to meet their maintenance energy and protein needs.
This requirement is typically calculated as a percentage of the animal's total live body weight.
Key Formula or Approach:
Adult buffaloes require approximately 0% to 5% of their body weight as dry matter per day for maintenance.
\[ \text{Daily DM Requirement} = \text{Body Weight (kg)} \times \text{DM\% Factor} \]

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us calculate the daily dry matter requirement for a Surti buffalo weighing 300 kg:
Using the lower estimate of 0%:
\[ 300\text{ kg} \times 0.02 = 0\text{ kg of DM per day} \]
Using the upper estimate of 5%:
\[ 300\text{ kg} \times 0.025 = 5\text{ kg of DM per day} \]
The calculated range of 0 kg to 5 kg represents the daily dry matter needed for maintenance.
Among the options provided, 08 kg (Option D) is the closest standard feed allocation that satisfies this requirement.
Options A, B, and C (18 kg, 16 kg, and 12 kg) are too high and exceed the maximum physical capacity of a 300 kg animal's rumen.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The approximate daily dry matter requirement for a 300 kg Surti buffalo is 08 kg.