Potential feed resources for swamp buffaloes (Bubalus Bubalis) raised under oil palm ecosystem

The domesticated buffalo
(Bubalus bubalis
) in Malaysia is represented
mostly by the swamp type. The total population of the animal is less than
130,000 heads with 59% in Peninsular Malaysia, 35% in Sabah and 6% in
Sarawak. Rear
ing of swamp buffaloes under the plantation environment
, both
under grazing and pen
-
fed situations,
are
of potential for meat production
.
The
availability of grasses, legumes, shrubs and tree fodders under the plantation
environment offer tremendous opport
unities as feed resources for
these animals
.
Palm kernel cake (PKC), o
il palm fronds (OPF), palm press fibre (PPF), oil palm
trunk (OPT),
and
palm oil mill effluent (POME)
are potential feedstuffs to be
utilized for
in situ
feeding of
swamp
buffaloes. Sup
plementation of high protein
fodder leaves
,
such as
Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Morris alba
and
Asystasia intrusa
could further en
hance
protein nutrition
,
especially for
intensively
-
fed
swamp buffaloes
.
Nutrient supplementation through
non
-
me
dicated (UMMB) and
medicated urea
-
molasses mineral blocks (MUMB) can
also be considered
to improve performances
. Feeding strategies and examples
of formulated ration for
swamp
buffalo meat production under oil palm plantation
are highlighted. Other economic benefits of this systematic integration are also discussed