Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Assessing the Chemical Composition and Fatty Acid Profile of the Total Mixed Rations of Dairy Buffaloes
Author(s)
Date Issued
2025
Type
article
Volume
15
Issue
6
Journal
Abstract
Featured Application: The role of fatty acids in the diets of animals, such as dairy buffaloes, is gaining increasing attention, particularly regarding polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) due to their impact on metabolic health, inflammation, and overall production efficiency. Monitoring the fatty acid composition in Total Mixed Rations (TMRs) through NIR spectroscopy is therefore strategic for ensuring the nutritional balance of the diet. The findings of this study not only reaffirm the well-established utility of NIR spectroscopy in assessing the chemical composition of animal rations but also establish a foundation for its application in evaluating fatty acid composition. This advancement enhances the potential for a comprehensive and integrated approach to feed analysis, enabling more effective on-farm verification and nutritional monitoring. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an efficient, non-destructive method for evaluating the chemical composition of various compounds. This study aimed to assess both the proximate composition, fibres, and fatty acid (FA) content of Total Mixed Rations (TMRs) in dairy buffalo nutrition. A total of 240 TMR samples were collected from ten dairy buffalo farms across four seasons to develop predictive models using Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR). Calibration models for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and starch demonstrated good predictive accuracy, with coefficients of determination in cross-validation (R2cv) around 0.90 and Residual Predictive Deviation (RPDcv) values exceeding 3.0. Fatty acid models showed slightly lower R2cv values, ranging from 0.80 to 0.90. A good predictive performance was observed for linoleic acid (18:2 n-6) and α-linolenic acid (18:3 n-3), with RPDp values above 3.0, indicating reliable predictions. The inclusion of omega-3-rich compounds in the diet provides significant benefits for both animal health and product quality, highlighting the importance of ration monitoring. The findings confirm that while NIRS is effective for assessing chemical composition, further refinement is needed to improve FA prediction accuracy. These results support the use of NIRS as a practical tool for nutritional monitoring in lactating buffaloes. © 2025 by the authors.
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Checksum (MD5)
6e8df44203db012db7c9ed99f4d9ae9e
Project(s)
AGRITECH - European Union NextGenerationEU - J83C22000830005
PON\u2014Ricerca e Innovazione 2014\u20132020 (DM1016/2021) is also acknowledged for the Evangelista C. PhD fellowship.