Buffalo feed for milk

Question

Sathiyavarsha K · Answer

Here’s a complete and practical buffalo feeding plan for milk production, whether you’re keeping Murrah, Jaffarabadi, or any other high-yield dairy buffalo breed.

1. Feed Categories for Milk Buffalo

Buffalo feed is divided into three main types:

Roughages – green fodder, dry fodder

Concentrates – grains, oil cakes, protein supplements

Mineral & vitamin mixture – essential for milk yield and health

2. Daily Feed Requirement (per adult milking buffalo)
Type of Feed	Quantity per Day	Remarks
Green Fodder	25–30 kg	Legume + Non-legume mix (e.g., Berseem + Maize/Napier)
Dry Fodder (straw, hay)	4–6 kg	Wheat or rice straw, well-chopped
Concentrate Mixture	1 kg for every 2.5–3 liters of milk produced	Example: 5–6 kg/day for 12–15 L milk yield
Mineral Mixture	50–75 g	Mix with concentrate or water
Salt (common salt)	30–40 g	Improves digestion
Clean Water	60–80 liters	Always available
3. Example Feed Schedule (for 12–15 Litres/day Milk Yield)
Time	Feed	Quantity	Notes
Morning (6–7 AM)	Concentrate mix + mineral mixture	3 kg	Before milking
	Green fodder	10–12 kg	After milking
Afternoon (1–2 PM)	Dry fodder	2–3 kg	Provide clean water after
Evening (6–7 PM)	Concentrate mix	3 kg	Before milking
	Green fodder	10–12 kg	After milking
4. Balanced Concentrate Mixture (Homemade Formula)
Ingredient	% by weight
Maize or Barley	30%
Wheat Bran	25%
Mustard or Groundnut Cake	25%
Deoiled Rice Bran	10%
Mineral Mixture	2%
Salt	1%
(Optional) Molasses	5–7% for taste and energy
5. Additional Tips for More Milk

Berseem + Maize + Mustard leaves mixture in winter increases fat and yield.

Napier + Cowpea mix is ideal in summer.

Add bypass fat (100 g/day) and bypass protein (300 g/day) for high-milk buffaloes.

Provide clean, cool water after every feeding.

Keep regular deworming and mineral supplementation every 3 months.

6. Example Milk-Linked Concentrate Requirement
Milk Yield (Liters/day)	Concentrate (kg/day)
5 L	2 kg
10 L	4 kg
15 L	6 kg
20 L	8 kg