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Abstract In vitro dry matter and organic matter disappearances were improved with the combination of beaker’s yeast (biological supplement) and chemical mixture (sodium acetate and sodium succinate) followed by the combination of chamomile(natural supplement) and chemical mixture and then the combination of chamomile, beaker’s yeast and chemical mixture, while, the combination of chamomile and beaker’s yeast recorded the lowest values of IVDMD and IVOMD. Sixteen lactating buffaloes (in the third and fourth season of lactation) in early lactation season (after 7 days of calving) divided into 4 groups (four animals each) were used to evaluate the effect of biological , natural and chemical supplements (previously mentioned) on the productive performance of lactating buffaloes.Treatments were: control group fed 60% concentrate feed mixture (CFM), 20% rice straw and 20% berseem (on dry matter basis), T1) control ration + chemical mixture (sodium acetate 100g + sodium succinate 3.5g/head/day) +dry yeast (10g)/ head / day , T2) control ration + chemical mixture + chamomile (10g)/ head / day and T3) control ration + chemical mixture + dry yeast (10g)/ head / day+ chamomile (10g)/ head / day. Experimental additives were added at the top of concentrate feed mixture daily. Dry matter intake was significantly increased for animals which treated with T1, T2 and T3 compared with control. Digestibilities of DM, OM, CF, EE and NFE were significantly (P<0.05) improved by treatments. Milk yield and 4% fat corrected milk yield were significantly (P<0.05) higher in animals fed additives than control.Milk protein, fat, lactose, total solids and ash contents were slightly higher (P>0.05) in treated animals than control. Feed efficiency (milk yield/DMI and FCM/DMI) was higher (P<0.05) for animals fed experimental additives than animals fed control. Animals fed on T1, T2 and T3 have higher values of serum total protein, albumin, globulin and glucose content than control animals. The results of the present study suggest that adding the combination of yeast, chamomile, sodium acetate and sodium succinate for lactating buffaloes improved nutrients digestibility, milk production and composition and feed efficiency without any adversly effect on general health of the treated animals as compared to animals fed the control diet. |