Effect of Dietary Pomegranate Peel (Punica granatum) Supplementation on Milk Production and Quality of Labneh of Friesian Dairy Cows

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of adding different levels of pomegranate peel (2, 3 and 4%) to dairy cows diets on milk production, chemical composition and quality of labneh. Sixteen crossbreed Friesian cows (3rd – 4th season) the first week of lactation were randomly chosen and divided into four groups (4 cows in each group) Latin square design (4x4) (28 days for each period). The groups were fed the following rations: (1)control ration (40% concentrate feed mixture + 40% corn silage + 20% rice straw, (2) control ration + 2% pomegranate peel. (3) control ration + 3% pomegranate peel, and (4) control ration + 4% pomegranate peel. The rations were formulated according to NRC (2001). The results show that diet containing 2% of pomegranate peel increased (P<0.05) the milk 4% FCM production. The use of pomegranate peels with the cow rations up to 2% to have higher yield of labneh with keeping the quality acceptable for the consumers. This study concluded that pomegranate peels at the level of 2% can be used for dairy cow rations to increase milk yield of dairy cows without any harmful effects health status of animals. Therefore, Further long-term studies on lactating animals are required to confirm the obtained results. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of adding different levels of pomegranate peel (2, 3 and 4%) to dairy cows diets on milk production, chemical composition and quality of labneh. Sixteen crossbreed Friesian cows (3rd – 4th season) the first week of lactation were randomly chosen and divided into four groups (4 cows in each group) Latin square design (4x4) (28 days for each period). The groups were fed the following rations: (1)control ration (40% concentrate feed mixture + 40% corn silage + 20% rice straw, (2) control ration + 2% pomegranate peel. (3) control ration + 3% pomegranate peel, and (4) control ration + 4% pomegranate peel. The rations were formulated according to NRC (2001). The results show that diet containing 2% of pomegranate peel increased (P<0.05) the milk 4% FCM production. The use of pomegranate peels with the cow rations up to 2% to have higher yield of labneh with keeping the quality acceptable for the consumers. This study concluded that pomegranate peels at the level of 2% can be used for dairy cow rations to increase milk yield of dairy cows without any harmful effects health status of animals. Therefore, Further long-term studies on lactating animals are required to confirm the obtained results.