Effect of supplementing napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) with sunflowermeal or poultry litter-based concentrates on feed intake, live-weight changes and economics of milk production in Friesian cows
Jmk. Muia et al., Effect of supplementing napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) with sunflowermeal or poultry litter-based concentrates on feed intake, live-weight changes and economics of milk production in Friesian cows, LIVEST PROD, 67(1-2), 2000, pp. 89-99
A study was conducted using a randomized complete block design to determine
feed intake, live-weight changes, milk yield and cost of milk production i
n Friesian cows fed napier grass (NG) at 10 weeks (MNG) or 15 weeks (ONG) o
f maturity. The MNG or ONG was supplemented with equal amounts of sunflower
(SFBC) or poultry litter (PLBC) based concentrates in experiment 1, while
in experiment 2, the MNG was supplemented with graded levels of the PLBC. I
n experiment 1, the intakes of total organic matter (TOMI) was lower (135.9
vs. 137.7 g kg W-0.75) while intake of total crude protein (TCPI) was grea
ter (16.6 vs. 12.0 g kg W-0.75) for MNG than ONG diets (P < 0.001). The TOM
I (137.8 vs. 135.8 W-0.75) and TCPI (14.3 vs. 14.2 W-0.75) were higher for
SFBC than PLBC diets (P < 0.05). The yield of milk corrected for butter fat
(FCM) was higher (11.0 vs. 5.7 kg cow(-1) day(-1)) for MNG than ONG diets
(P < 0.001). In experiment 2, the TOMI (112.8 vs. 130.6 g kg W-0.75) and th
e TCPI (12.2 vs. 16.1 g kg W-0.75) were lower for MNG only diet than the me
an of the supplemented MNG (P < 0.001). The MNG only diet supported lower y
ields of FCM (7.7 vs. 10.7 kg cow(-1) day(-1)) than the mean of the supplem
ented MNG (P < 0.001). Although supplemented cows fed MNG diets gained weig
ht, those fed supplemented ONG diets or MNG only diet lost weight. Feeding
of supplemented ONG resulted in loss of revenue while supplementing with PL
BC had higher profits than SFBC. We concluded that use of the PLBC would lo
wer costs and improve milk production in dairy cows fed NG-based diets. (C)
2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.