Conference
Effect of different legume supplementation on milk production performance of Borana Goats [2003]
Lema Fita(Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, Adami Tulu (Ethiopia)); Lemma Aberra(Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, Adami Tulu (Ethiopia)); Nega Tolla(Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, Adami Tulu (Ethiopia)); Tesfaye Alemu(Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, Adami Tulu (Ethiopia));
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A study was conducted at Adami Tulu Research Center to see the effect of different forage legume supplementation on the milk production performance of Borana goats. Fifty six Borana goats of the same age groups and parity were randomly allocated to the following seven treatment groups: Eight hours grazing alone (T sub(1), T sub(1) + wheat bran (210 g/head/day) (T sub(2), T sub(1) + noug cake (90 g/head/day) (T sub(3), T sub(1) + alfalfa (200 g/head/day) (T sub(4), T sub(1) + S. sesban (200 g/head/day) T sub(5), T sub(1) + cowpea (210 g/head/day) (T sub(6) and T sub(1) + C. cajan (200 g/head/day) (T sub(7). In all cases, supplementation increased the daily milk yield of Borana goats. Among the different forage legumes used cowpea gave the highest daily milk yield (459.92±19.75 ml/day) next to wheat bran (479.25±21.04 ml/day). Statistically there was significant difference between the two values (p0.05). The yield obtained by feeding cowpea (459.92 plus or minus 19.75 ml/day) was about 96% of the yield obtained by feeding wheat bran (479.25±21.04 ml/day). There was no significant difference in milk yield among the groups that feed noug cake, alfalfa, S. sesban and C. Cajan. The average daily milk yield of the unsupplemented group is lower by about 23 and 20% than the group supplemented with wheat bran and cowpea respectively. The maximum weekly milk production was obtained during the second week of lactation (519.29 ml/day) and after which it gradually decli
ned to 309.14 ml/day at the end of the 12th week of lactaion.
