Betaine Supplementation and Milk Production during Heat Stress in Crossbred Cows

Abstract

Twenty crossbred cows (HF ×Jersey) yielding 18–20 kg milk/d were divided into two groups of ten each based on milk yield, fat% and stage of lactation during hot summer months. The animals in both the groups were fed basal diet comprising 9.0 kg concentrates, 25.0 kg green fodder and 3.5 kg dry fodder. In addition to basal diet, animals in experimental group were supplemented with betaine hydrochloride @ 30 g/d and buffer @ 100 g/d for 90 d. The average temperature-humidity index was 71.78 and 78.12 at 09: 00 and 14: 00 h, respectively. Study revealed that betaine supplementation improved (P<0.01) DMI and milk yield by 8.79 and 10.55% in cows as compared to control group. Average fat (3.70% vs. 3.96%; P<0.01) and SNF (8.54% vs. 8.63%; P<0.01) contents were also higher in experimental group. Lower DMI (14.2 and 15.7 kg/d) and milk yield (15.4 and 17.4 kg/) were observed in both the groups when there was higher THI (83.3) during the study. Rectal temperature (103.4 vs. 102.6oF), respiration rate (63.5 vs. 45.5/min.) and pulse rate (76.8 vs. 60.8/min.) at 14: 00 h were lower (P<0.05) in cows supplemented with betaine as compared to control group. The net daily income was higher by 20.05 (P<0.05) in experimental group as compared to control. Therefore, supplementation of betaine hydrochloride and buffer in the ration of dairy cows during heat stress period not only maintained DMI and milk yield but also improved net daily income of dairy farmers in tropical conditions of India.