A NOTE ON THE USE OF MANIHOT SCULENTA (CASSAVA) AS A PROTEIN OPTION FOR GRAZING DAIRY-COWS

Eight third lactation Holstein cows of 120 +/- 5 days of calving were used, for evaluating Manihot sculenta cassava) as a protein bank. Trea tments were: A) grazing for 13 hr in bermuda grass 67 plus 3 hr/day of cassava grazing and B) grazing for 16 hr in bermuda grass 67. Milk pr oduction was higher (P < 0.01) for cows with access to cassava foliage . Milk lactose was higher (P < 0.05) in that treatment, without other differences in milk components, rumen liquor and blood component. It i s concluded that cassava grazing in the form of a protein bank could c onstitute an alternative when cutting and/or drying cannot be performe d. Further studies on this variant are recommended.