balanced mixture is usually prepared in such a manner that 3.5 to 4
Kg of it may support 10 litres of milk production. Normally in dairy
animals this mixture is fed at rate of ½ of the milk yield (one Kg
of concentrate mixture for every two litres of milk).
Balanced concentrate mixture feeding is essential for dairy animals
because a single concentrate like maize, barley or oat and oilseed
cake alone cannot meet the requirements properly. If a single
concentrate, such as maize, sorghum, or barley is considered for
feeding of 400 kg lactating buffalo yielding 10 litres milk, about 7
Kg grain will be needed to provide the protein requirement. Inferior
quality hay or straw roughage is not only costly but also harmful.
Similarly when high protein oilcake like groundnut and till cakes
are sued as single concentrate, the excess of protein is wasted and
the ratio between protein and carbohydrate is also disturbed which
affects milk production.