Feeding of dairy cattle in the forest-garden farms of Kandy, Sri Lanka

A survey on feeding practices was conducted with 60 farmers belonging to fo ur categories (15 farmers in each): male farmers without off-farm income (M -), male farmers with off-farm income (M+), female farmers without off-farm income (W-), and female farmers with off-farm income (W+). Data on herd si ze, feeds offered, milk production, chest girth, reproduction and managemen t were collected monthly over a period of 1 year. In addition, samples of f odder and concentrates were collected monthly and analysed for dry matter ( DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and in vitro organic matter di gestibility (OMD). Of the 550 rations analysed, grass was included in 99.8% of all rations, followed by gliricidia (65%), creepers (50%) and jak leave s (32%). Consequently, the rations were high in OMD (47-59%) and CP (7.8-23 .5%). High-protein forage or coconut cake or both were also included as a s upplement in 92% of the rations. Both M- and W- farmers had larger (p < 0.0 01) herds (mean 1.8 animal units (AU) per household) than their counterpart s with off-farm income (mean 1.44 AU/household), but only the male farmers without off-farm income achieved higher feeding levels (84.4 vs 65.6-72.1 g digestible organic matter (DOM)/kg(0.75) per day) and milk production (6.4 vs 5.3-5.7 L/lactating cow). The lower production of animals kept by femal e and M+ farmers was related to lower feeding levels. M- farmers realized h igher feeding levels than their M+ counterparts. W- farmers did not collect extra feed in response to higher levels of production. It was concluded th at dairy farming in the mid-country of Sri Lanka is particularly important for poorer households without income from off-farm employment.