Effects of high-quality oil palm frond pellets on nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation, and production performance of lactating dairy cows

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the influences of feeding high-quality oil palm frond pellets (HOPFP) as a replacement for concentrate on the DMI, nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation, milk production, and milk composition in lactating dairy cows. Four, multiparous 75% Holstein Friesian cows were assigned in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to receive HOPFP as a dietary replacement for concentrate at 0, 25, 50, and 75% (DM basis). Cows were fed concentrate + HOPFP at a 2:1 ratio of daily milk production to diet, and urea-treated rice straw (5% urea) was fed ad libitum as roughage. Concentrate + HOPFP feed intake, total DMI (kg/d and %BW), nutrient digestibility, and nutrient intake of DM and OM were significantly greater in cows that received 25% HOPFP than those in those in other groups ( P < 0.05). There was a quadratic ( P < 0.05) effect of HOPFP level on total VFA (4 h after feeding) and milk yield, with greater values in cows fed 25% HOPFP due to the greater feed intake and digestibility of DM and OM. Cows fed with 0, 25, and 50% HOPFP had greater milk fatty acids in terms of C14:0, C16:0, and C18:2n-6, whereas milk composition and the other fatty acids in milk were not altered among the groups ( P > 0.05). The HOPFP can be used as an alternative feed resource for lactating dairy cows. Practically, smallholder farmers with low- and medium-producing dairy cows could use the findings.