According to Devendra5, the bulk of the evidence
suggests that the swamp buffalo probably does have an
inherent capacity to utilize dietary fiber relatively more
efficiently than cattle. This conclusion must necessarily
be tentative, since it is based on a few comparisons in
which the experimental details are not clear. In the
present study, there was no significant difference in the
digestibility of fiber. There should be some factors
involved in the inconsistent results reported in the past
regarding the specific difference in fiber digestion
between cattle and buffaloes. The CP content of Ruzi
hay utilized in the present study was 4.8%, which was
similar to the value of rice straw according to Standard
Tables of Feed Composition in Japan1. Lower quality
roughage than this hay is often utilized in the practice of
local feeding management. If such low quality roughage
is used, a specific difference may become clear.