The use of Reading Pressure Technique to estimate cumulative and rate of gas production for a range of commercially available buffalo feeds.

The objective of this study is to examine the fermentation and degradation characteristics of seven substrates (alfalfa hay, soybean flour, wheat by-product, flaked barley, ryegrass, maize silage and straw) typically used in a commercial buffalo dairy farm, using the in vitro Reading Pressure Technique [RPT] according to Mauricio et al. (1999). This feed evaluation system is designed to examine the rate and extent of both fermentation [gas release] and substrate degradation simultaneously. With regards to measurements, standard parameters will be evaluated i.e. dry matter (DMD) and organic matter degradation (OMD) and fermentation gas release over a 96 h incubation period.