Smallholder dairy production in northern Shoa Province, central highlands of Ethiopia. 3. Feeding management and performance of Friesian X Zebu (Boran) crossbred dairy cows.
1991
Varvikko T. | Gashaw Geda | Lundstrom T.G. | Khalili H.
The survey was carried out on 28 smallholder farms to monitor the current stall-feeding practice of lactating crossbred cows, and relating the nutrient supply from stall-feeding to their requirements. There were more than one two-fold seasonal variations in the level of stall-fed dry matter intake ranging from 3.9-9.3 kg DM/d. The metabolizable energy intake varied from 82 MJ/d in February and August to 43 MJ/d in July, and intake of crude protein varied from 856 g/d in August to 346 g/d in July. The average live weight changed from 398 kg in November to 357 kg in July. Lowest 90 first days' milk yields were also recorded for cows calved in July. The average milk yield of all completed first lactations on the farms was 1466 kg, and the average lactation length was 350 days. Generally, stall-feeding supported some more than half of the ME required over maintainance for the present level of milk yield, and less than half of the respective CP needs. ME and CP supplies were markedly deficient for production at any stage of lactation. No attempt was found to budget the stall-feeds over the critical period of June-July, or according to requirements during lactation. It was concluded that current stall-feeding does not support the potential milk production of crossbred cows, but they depend too much on grazing low quality pastures, or on body reserves.
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