Feeding management approach to improve the dairy performance of crosses between Bos taurus and Bos indicus Linn. at PDC [Philippine Dairy Corporation] Project

The survey data showed that the mean age of the respondents was 48 years of which 59 percent were male and 41 percent were female. The high participation of women in dairying at PDC Davao [Philippines] was significant because large ruminant production is generally associated with men. The respondents were considered highly educated with 45 percent of the respondents with college education while 38 percent obtained high school education and 96 percent attended trainings/seminars on dairy cattle production. The average milk production and length of lactation for first, second, third and fourth lactations were 1427, 1651, 1875, and 2223 kg; 257, 266, 271, and 283 days, respectively. The average calving interval was 419 days. The number of services per conception ranged from 1-3 with an average of 2. Weaning was practiced by most (37 percent) farmers at 210 days. Delayed payment for milk was singled out by 44 percent of the farmers as a major constraint to the adoption of technology, hence, the observed low productivity at PDC Davao. Results of the 120-day feeding trial showed that the body condition score of cows fed with concentrate was significantly (P0.05) improved throughout the study. UMMB [urea-molasses-mineral block] supplementation significantly improved the body condition score only during the last month of observation. The heart girth measurement was not significantly (P0.05) affected by the treatments during the first month of observation. However, from the second month of observation, the cows fed with concentrate significantly (P0.05) had bigger heart girth than those without concentrate in the diet. Because most of the experimental animals were already in the second stage of lactation, milk yield generally decreased while the milk fat content increased. Hence, the nutrient intake of the animals was higher than the requirement for milk production and therefore stored as body reserve. This explains the higher body weight as reflected in an increase of heart girth measurement. UMMB when given with concentrate in the diet improved the heart girth measurement and milk fat content of the animals, but not milk yield