Buffalo Farm
More milk and more fat from every buffalo.
A buffalo feeding chart for Murrah, Graded Murrah and local buffaloes: how much to feed each day for upkeep, milk, pregnancy and growth.
How much feed does a buffalo need a day?
First her upkeep, then 1.25 kg of TMR-E complete feed for every litre of milk she gives. With no fodder at all, upkeep is 8–9 kg of TMR-E a day. So a buffalo giving 8 litres with no fodder needs about 18–19 kg of TMR-E a day: 8–9 kg for her body and 10 kg for her milk. With fodder, she needs much less.
Buffalo feeding chart: upkeep a day
Plenty of green fodder
28–30 kg of green fodder a day. No TMR-E needed for upkeep.
Only dry fodder
9–10 kg of dry fodder (straw) a day.
Some green, some dry
14–15 kg of green fodder and 4–5 kg of dry fodder a day.
No fodder at all
8–9 kg of TMR-E a day. TMR-E alone can feed her.
Then, for her milk
Add 1.25 kg of TMR-E for every litre she gives. 4 litres → 5 kg. 8 litres → 10 kg.
Buffalo or cow: what changes
Why does a buffalo need more feed per litre?
Buffalo milk is richer than cow milk: it has more fat and more solids in every litre, often 6–8% fat. Making that richer milk takes more energy and protein, so she needs more feed for each litre. Dairies pay for that richness, so feeding her well for milk and fat pays back.
What each buffalo needs
Giving milk
Upkeep, plus 1.25 kg of TMR-E for every litre. Add Milk Booster: 1 sachet a day up to 4 litres, 2 sachets above that.
Dry
Upkeep only: her fodder, or 8–9 kg of TMR-E a day if there is no fodder.
Pregnant
Extra TMR-E a day: +1 kg in months 1–3, +2 kg in months 4–7, +3 kg in months 8–10. The same whether she is giving milk or dry.
Heifers and calves
By body weight: about 2 kg of TMR-E a day at 100 kg, 3 kg at 150 kg, 3.5 kg at 200 kg and 4 kg from 250 kg, with green fodder. With no green fodder, add 1.5 kg. Calves under 3 months: milk and calf starter, not TMR-E.
Buffalo care that protects milk and fat
- Keep her cool. Buffaloes feel heat more than cows: give shade, and let her wallow or splash her with water in the hot hours.
- Clean water in front of her all day, more in summer.
- Change feed over a week, a little more of the new feed each day.
- Milk at the same times, calmly, and milk out fully: the last milk has the most fat.
- Watch closely for heat after calving. Buffaloes often show it quietly, at night or early morning. Ask your vet if she has not come into heat.
- Udder hot, hard or swollen, or clots in the milk: call your vet.
Your buffaloes, your numbers
The Feed Plan does the sums for all your buffaloes and the fodder you have: kg a day, bags a month and your feed cost for every litre of milk.
