Performance of dairy cows fed four different roughages and two levels of concentrates
2001
Simanjuntak, A.K. | Escano, J.R.
Sixteen lactating Holstein x Red Sindhi cows were used in a 4 x 2 randomized block design to determine the effects, if any, of feeding four kinds of roughages supplemented with two levels of concentrates on cow's milk production and composition, body weight gain and physiological responses (body temperature, respiratory rate and pulse rate). Four sources of ensiled roughage were used, namely, rice straw-molasses silage (R1), corn stover-molasses silage (R2), sugarcane tops-molasses silage (R3) and Napier grass silage (R4). For each roughage, concentrate was supplemented at two levels, namely, 1 kg concentrate for every 2 kg milk produced (C1) and 1 kg concentrate for every 1.5 kg milk produced (C2). Differences between daily mean for feed intake, milk production and composition and physiological responses of cows fed different roughages supplemented with two levels of concentrate were found to be not significant. The dry matter intakes and milk production of the cows fed with R1, R2, R3 and R4 were: dry matter - 10.07, 8.58, 7.92 and 9.48 kg; milk production - 6.48, 5.81, 5.62 and 6.39 kg, respectively. The relatively higher dry matter intake of animals fed rice-straw-molasses silage (10.06 kg), resulted to higher actual milk production (6.48 kg). The relatively higher dry matter intake with feeding of higher concentrate level did not however, result to increased milk production (C1=6.23 kg; C2=5.92 kg). Animals fed higher concentrate level had higher dry matter intake (9.25 kg) than those fed with lower concentrate level (8.77 kg). This higher dry matter intake with feeding of higher concentrate level did not however, result to increased milk production (C1=6.23 kg; C2=5.92 kg). A certain trend indicating a possible relationship between milk composition and concentrate intake was observed. Generally, with increased concentrate intake, mean percentages for solids-non-fat, total solids, and protein also increased. The source of roughage and concentrate level were also found not to affect physiological responses namely, body temperature, respiratory rate, and pulse rate, of the animals. Animals on R1 and R4 which has the highest dry matter and gross energy intakes also had higher gain in body weights. The means for body weight gain/loss for R1, R2, R3 and R4 were 24.14, 1.1l4, -17.28 and 4.36 kg, respectively. Animals fed with higher concentrate level gained an average of 5.97 kg compared to 0.21 kg gained by those on lower concentrate level. The feeding of higher concentrate level resulted to lower return of income over concentrate cost per cow per day. The returns were P8.87 and P7.58 for C1 and C2, respectively. The feeding of higher concentrate level resulted to lower return of income over concentrate cost per cow per day. The returns were P8.87 and P7.58 ton C1 and C2, respectively. Under the conditions and management practices employed in the investigation it could be stated that properly ensiled farm by-products such as rice straw, corn stover and sugarcane tops could be harnessed as sources of roughage for dairy cattle.
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