Author : Mukh Arifin

Summary : Twelve Phil-Murrah crossbreds (1-3 years old ) were used in a 2x2 factorial experiment in randomized complete block design (RCBD) to evaluate their physiologic and metabolic responses. They were fed with concentrate (16 percent crude protein) at 1 or 0.5 percent of body weight (BW) with or without thermal protection. The daily dry matter intake (DMI) and roughage intake (RI) of buffaloes were not significantly (P<0.05) affected by interaction of both concentrate supplementation and thermal protection. The DMI and RI of thermally protected buffaloes were higher than those exposed to the sun. The buffaloes fed with concentrate at 0.5 percent BW level had higher RI than those fed at 1 percent BW level had higher RI than those fed at 1 percent BW level. The interaction of concentrate supplementation and thermal protection did not influence (P<0.05) total body weight gain (TBG) and average daily gain (ADG). The TBG and ADG of buffaloes fed with concentrate at 1 percent BW level were higher than those fed at 0.5 percent BW level. The thermally protected buffaloes had higher TBG and ADG than those exposed to the sun. The pulse rate, respiration rate, and body temperature (PRT) of buffaloes measured at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. were not significantly (P<0.05) affected by the interaction of concentrate supplementation and thermal protection. Likewise, no significant (<0.05) factor interaction was observed on their increments except that for temperature. No significant (P<0.05) differences in the PRT and respiration rate increment values were observed among buffaloes fed concentrate at both 1 and 0.5 percent BW levels. The pulse rate increment of buffaloes fed with concentrate at 0.5 percent BW level without thermal protection (0.5 percent BWWTOP) had the highest increase in rectal temperature, follwed by those fed with concentrate at 1 percent BW level without thermal protection (1 percent BWWTOP), those given concentrate at 0.5 percent BW with thermal protection (0.5 percent BWWTP), and those fed at 1 percent BW.