Evaluation of Extruded Finger Millet Straw Based Complete Diet in Lactating Dairy Cows

Abstract

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of feeding finger millet straw based extruded complete feed on the lactational performance of dairy cows. Six crossbred cows in late lactation were divided into two groups of three each and used in a switch over design. Treatment diets included control group (CON) fed compounded feed mixture and finger millet straw as a roughage source offered separately and ECF group fed with the same diet in the form of extruded complete feed. Digestibility (%) of DM, OM and NDF was higher in the ECF compared to the CON diet (P<0.05). The total milk (5.34 vs. 5.97 kg/d) and 4% FCM (5.63 vs. 6.66 kg/d) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in ECF compared to CON group. Considering the milk constituents (per cent) of CON and ECF groups, the fat (4.37 and 4.71%), SNF (9.02 and 9.23%), protein (3.31 and 3.39%) and lactose (4.94 and 5.06%) contents were significantly higher in ECF group (P<0.05). The efficiency of net energy (NE) utilisation for milk production was higher with feeding of extruded complete feed, with more NE diverted to milk production than the cows of control group. Considering the overall results of the study, it is concluded that feeding of finger millet straw based extruded complete feed could improve the lactational performance of cows in late lactation possibly leading to the increased efficiency of feeding management in dairy production.