Abstract
The objective of the present study was to find the effect of feeding of Gliricidia ( Gliricidia sepium ) leaf meal blocks on intake, live weight gain and milk yield of dairy cows. Two types of Gliricidia leaf meal blocks (B1 and B2) were prepared and compared with a control diet of grass and straw. Gliricidia leaf meal blocks were prepared using Gliricidia leaf meal, coconut ( Cocos nucifera ) poonac and rice ( Oryza sativa ) bran. A feeding trial was conducted according to 3x3 Latin square design using lactating cows. Treatments were basal diet (T1), basal diet with B1 (T2) and basal diet with B2 (T3). Basal diet consisted of Brachiaria brizantha , Coimbatoor 3 ( Pennisetum perpureum x Pennisetum americarnum ) and rice straw. Data were statistically analyzed using general linear model procedure in SAS version 8. Average dry matter intake of cows fed with both types of blocks were higher (p Key words: Dairy cows; Gliricidia leaf meal blocks; Supplementation DOI: 10.4038/tar.v22i1.2672 Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 22 (1): 76-83 (2010)
Highlights
Rearing livestock is an integral part of the farming systems under coconut in many areas of Sri Lanka
A feeding trial was conducted at Coconut Research Institute (CRI), Lunuwila using indigenous cross bred dairy cows (Indigenous x Sahiwal) to find the effect of feeding of Gliricidia leaf meal blocks on their intake, live weight gain and milk yield
According to the present results, the supplementation of roughage diets with leguminous blocks (22% on dry matter basis) increased the feed intake of cows
Summary
Rearing livestock is an integral part of the farming systems under coconut in many areas of Sri Lanka. It provides a steady income throughout the year with less risk than intercropping. In the coconut triangle, ruminant animals are mainly reared under semi intensive management system with tethered grazing. The main feed resources available are grasses and weeds grown under coconut and other perennials. Ruminants help control the weeds thereby, reduce the cost of weeding. According to Liyanage, (1999) coconut production has shown an increase by 20-25% after three years of practice of coconut livestock farming systems
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