Impact of dried distillers grains with solubles as a partial substitute for soybean meal on haematological indices in lactating Murrah buffaloes

Introduction

The livestock sector constitutes a vital component of the agricultural economy in India, contributing significantly to national income, employment, and nutritional security. In recent years, the sector has shown substantial growth with its 31% share in the gross value added (GVA) of agriculture increasing steadily (BAHS 2025) [2] . India possesses the largest livestock population in the world, including approximately 109.85 million buffaloes (20 th livestock census). Buffalo contributes 43.15% to total national milk production (BAHS 2025) [2] . Among the recognized buffalo breeds, Murrah buffalo is regarded as one of the most productive dairy breeds due to its superior milk yield and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. Despite the rapid growth of the dairy industry, feed cost remains a major constraint, accounting for nearly 50-70% of total milk production expenses (Alqaisi et al., 2014) [3] . The increasing demand and fluctuating supply of conventional feed ingredients particularly protein-rich sources such as deoiled soybean meal (DSBM), have further escalated production costs. Therefore, identifying alternative, cost-effective, and nutritionally efficient feed resources is essential for sustaining profitability in dairy farming systems. Dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) is a co-product of the grain-based ethanol industry. [4,10] . The utilization of DDGS in dairy diets has been associated with several advantages, including reduction in feed costs, improved feed intake, and enhanced nutrient availability. Moreover, the inclusion of DDGS has been reported to have no adverse effects on animal health, as reflected by stable haematological parameters (El-Shinnawy et al., 2015; Dhami et al., 2023) [7,5] . Haematological indices serve as reliable indicators of the physiological, nutritional, and metabolic status of animals, and their evaluation is essential for assessing the safety and efficacy of alternative feed ingredients.

However, limited information is available regarding the effects of DDGS inclusion on the haematological profile of lactating Murrah buffaloes under Indian conditions. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of partial replacement of DSBM with DDGS on haematological parameters in lactating Murrah buffaloes.

Materials and Methods

Experimental Site and Animals

The experiment was conducted at the Livestock Production and Management Section, ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar. Twentyone early lactating Murrah buffaloes (30±5 days in milk) were selected and divided into three groups, each group containing 7 animals.

Feeding Management

The concentrate mixtures were formulated to be isonitrogenous and iso-caloric. DDGS replaced soybean meal at 25% and 50% levels.

Blood Sampling and Analysis

Blood samples were collected via jugular vein on days 0, 60, and 120 before feeding. Haematological parameters were determined using standard procedures.

Statistical Analysis

Data were analyzed using ANOVA (SPSS version 26) and differences among treatments were tested at p<0.05 significance level

Ethical Approval

The experimental procedures involving animals were conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) and approved by the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), Government of India. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the IAEC of ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, ensuring that all animal handling and experimental procedures complied with standard ethical norms and welfare regulations.

Results

Hematological profile

Table 5 provides the mean hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) values for lactating Murrah buffaloes across different treatments. Hb levels ranged from 9.51±0.26 g/dL to 9.95±0.16 g/dL, with no significant differences (p>0.05) observed due to dietary treatments or period-treatment interactions. However, Hb levels showed a tendency to

International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research https://www.biochemjournal.com increase significantly at the 120th day compared to the baseline (day 0). Similarly, PCV values were consistent across dietary treatments, with ranges between 37.05±0.58% and 37.57±0.50%, showing no significant variations (p>0.05). [5] . Stable Hb and PCV levels are considered reliable indicators of adequate nutrient intake and good health status (Nworgu et al., 2007) [11] .

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) can effectively replace up to 50% of deoiled soybean meal in the diet of lactating Murrah buffaloes without any adverse effects on their haematological profiles. The stability of haemoglobin and packed cell volume indicates that DDGS inclusion did not impair the physiological or health status of the animals. Overall, DDGS emerges as a safe, nutritionally efficient alternative protein source in dairy buffalo feeding.

Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges the Director and Joint Director (Academics), ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar, for providing the necessary facilities for conducting this research. The author also extends gratitude to the advisory committee and staff of the Division of Livestock Production and Management for their guidance and support. The data reported in this article were collected as part of the author's M.V.Sc. thesis at ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar. No external funding was received for this study. The author declares no conflict of interest.

References

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