Effects of dietary rumen-degradable protein on growth performance, nitrogen metabolism, and rumen microbiome in dairy buffalo heifers
Yiting Liu
IntroductionBuffaloes are globally important dairy animals, but their low feed nitrogen utilization efficiency and excessive dietary rumen-degradable protein (RDP) results in aggravated nitrogen pollution and high breeding costs. Studies on the optimal RDP levels for 7–10-month-old dairy buffalo heifers remain scarce, limiting precise nutritional management.Materials and methodsDairy buffalo heifers (n = 36, 7–10-month-old, 193.39 ± 4.10 kg) were selected, and randomly assigned to six groups (n