Performance of dairy animals fed with rice straw/corn silage supplemented with ipil-ipil leaves and dried poultry manure

In a randomized complete block (RCB) design, 12 cows in mid-lactation were alloted to 4 dietary treatments varying levels of ipil-ipil leaf meal (ILM) and dried poultry manure (DPM). The control ration did not contain ILM nor DPM. Each cow underwent four 24-day feeding periods to rationally received the 4 rations. The control ration had higher (P0.05) in vitro digestibility compared to the 3 test-rations among which, the ration containing 20% ILM and 10% DPM of total ration dry matter was more digestible (P0.05) than the other 2. No significant differences were found in nutrient intake, body weight changes and income over feed cost. Likewise, differences observed on milk production, composition and quality among the treatment groups were insignificant. Dried poultry manure and ipil-ipil leaf meal can be used at levels of 10-20% and 10-30% of dry matter, respectively, in corn-silage-based complete rations for lactating cows having passed peak milk production. Twenty-five does of Anglo-Nubian, Toggenburg and Alpine breeds were randomly assigned to 5 different rations in a RCB design to compare the feeding values of rice straw and grass-based ration; to determine the effects of supplementing ipil-ipil leaves and poultry manure in varying levels to rice straw-based rations in milk production, acceptability of pasteurized milk, health of the goats and the economics of using them as protein supplements. In vitro digestibility values of the total rations revealed wide differences among the treatment groups being highest in Ration 1 and lowest in Ration 3. Both dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibilities of the rations tended to increase as DPM was replaced by ILM. Daily dry matter intakes were statistically similar for all rations. Crude protein (CP) intake was significantly higher in Ration 1 compared to Ration 2. Except for those on Ration 3, all animals lost weight. No significant differences were observed in the daily mix yield 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM). The only difference in composition observed was a low total solid (TS) content in Ration 3 compared to Ration 4. Organoleptic tests rated the flavor and overall acceptance of milk from Rations 1 and 2 desirable and those from Ration 3, 4, and 5 slightly desirable. Compared to other rations, more off-flavor, particularly saltiness was observed in milk from animals on Ration 3 which had 50% DPM and 25% ILM. Only Ration 3 gave a positive income. Apparently, the addition of DPM in the ration produced a big reduction in its cost. A series of experiments were conducted to determine palatability of DPM, the effects of heat treatment on the microbiological and chemical qualities of DPM, and whether antibiotics and/or DPM containing rations. Concentrate intake of cattle was significantly improved with decreasing amount of DPM in the mixture from 100% to 25%, with goats, intake was higher (0.05) at 25% DPM inclusion compared to 100% DPM can safely be incorporated in the ration at 25% without adversely affecting intake. In order to reduce microbial content of DPM without decreasing CP content, DPM should be heated at 70 deg C for 1 day. None of the 38 DPM and 18 milk samples examined were positive for the levels of antibiotics (chloromphenicol and furazolidone) tested. Similarly, no detectable residue of 3 pesticides (methyl parathion, BPMC and chlorpyrifos) were found in 44 milk and 35 blood samples studied