DIGESTION OF STARCH AND NITROGEN IN DIFFERENT PART OF THE ALIMENTARY CANAL OF DEFAUNATED MURRAH BUFFALO (Bubalu bubalis) CALVES

Four Murrah male buffalo calves with an average body weight of $188{\pm}1.6kg$ each fitted with rumen and abomasal cannula were subjected to defaunation followed by refaunation. The animals were offered wheat straw and a concentrate mixture. There was no difference in dry matter, starch and nitrogen intake in defaunated and refaunated buffalo calves. Production of ruminal total volatile fatty acid and acetate : propionate ratio decreased (p < 0.01) whereas, molar proportion of propionate increased (25.8 Vs 19.4% p < 0.01) in defaunated animals. Fermentation of starch in rumen increased (73.9 Vs 65.8%, p < 0.01) but in small intestine decreased (20.2 Vs. 28.2%, p < 0.05) in defaunated calves. The flow of non ammonia nitrogen (NAN) to abomasum (75.1 vs 68.6 g/d, p < 0.01) and its digestion in small intestine (37,6 vs 32.5 g/d, p < 0.01) was improved due to defaunation. However, No difference in the total tract digestibility of starch and nitrogen was found in defaunated and refaunated buffalo calves.