The objective was to evaluate the performance of lactating water buffalo fed diets with different fat sources. Twelve lactating water buffaloes were randomly distributed in four diets: without additional fat, soybean seed, cottonseed and soybean oil. The experimental period was 84 days, with four periods of 21 days (14 days for diet adaptation and 7 days for sample collections. The diets were fullfed, twice daily, as total mixed ration. At sample collections period, milk yield (kg/day) and 4% fat corrected milk (4%FCM) yield were evaluated. Four kg of milk were collected for mozzarella type cheese production. After mozzarella cheese production, it was determined the efficiency in relation to milk in natura and milk 45FCM. The fat sources did not affect daily milk production of water buffalo cows, however affected the 4%FCM, which was higher in the water buffalo cows that was fed diet with soybean seed. The efficiency of milk for Mozzarella production was higher for soybean oil diet. Feeding costs, per day and total (84 days) were higher for the diet with cottonseed, followed by soybean oil, without additional fat and soybean seed. The profitability for the milk sale was higher for diet with soybean grain, soybean oil, without additional lipid and with cottonseed, respectively, and for mozzarella sail was higher for soybean oil. As the main buffalo milk product is the mozzarella, results suggested that the diet with soybean oil content would be the best for lactating water buffalo.
cottonseed; ether extract; lactation; soybean grain; soybean oil
