Meat characteristics of buffaloes fed with different roughage: concentrate ratios

Abstract

Meat characteristics of mature swamp buffalo fed with two different ratios of roughage and concentrate feed was studied. Twelve draught buffaloes with an average weight of 350 kg were randomly divided into two treatments and kept individually in pens. The concentrate:roughage ratio (based on dry matter) was 50:50 (T1) or 30:70 (T2), respectively. All buffaloes were slaughtered at a body weight of 500 kg (+/- 25) and M. longissimus dorsi was removed in order to study meat quality. The meat quality in terms of color, pH and conductivity values were not significantly different between the groups. Meat color in terms of L (lightness) showed that LD of T2 group was significantly lighter when compared with T1 (P < 0.01). However, the redness (a value) and the yellowness (b value) were not significantly different. Water holding capacity (WHC) in terms of drip, thawing, boiling and grilling loss was not significantly different. Furthermore, the fat, protein and moisture percentage of both groups was not different (P>0.05). In conclusion, meat characteristic traits of buffalo fed concentrate to roughage in ratios of 50:50 or 30:70 were similar.