Abstract
The study was undertaken on farm at Wondo Genet woreda Southern Nations National People Regional State (SNNPRS) Ethiopia, to evaluate the effect of different feed supplements on feed intake, milk yield and economic feasibility of Holstein Frisian cross breed dairy cows under small holder farmers. Twenty four cross breed dairy cows with early lactation mean initial milk yield of 10±1.34 (mean ±SE) lit per cow per day and average initial body weight 388.75 ± 2.41 kg (mean ±SE) was used for this research work. The experiment had four treatments with six replications by using a randomized complete block design to which villages was used for blocking. The treatments were; T1, Harvested fresh natural pasture and sole wheat bran 100 %. T2, Harvested fresh natural pasture and concentrate mix comprised with wheat bran 66%, noug seed cake33% and salt 1%. T3, Harvested fresh natural pasture and concentrate mix comprised with cotton seed cake 33%, wheat bran 66% and 1% salt and .T4, harvested fresh natural pasture and Urea molasses block. There was significant (P<0.05) differences on average crude protein and acid detergent fiber intakes among treatment groups. The average daily Milk yield have significant difference (P<0.05) among treatment diets. The daily average milk yield increment among treatments liter per cow per day was 3.00± 0.47, 2.89± 0.38 , 2.66± 0.38, and 0.42± 0.38; for T4, T2, T3 and T1 correspondingly. The partial budget analysis describes monthly gross profit obtained from milk sale among the treatments was for T4= 1038.75 birr, T2=956.40 birr, T3= 844.20 birr and T1=-190.80 birr was observed. Thus, it was concluded that Holstein Frisian cross breed dairy cows at early stage of lactation fed a basal diet of fresh natural grass supplemented with 3 kg wheat bran and 500 gm UMB per day per cow could be a better strategy to improve the milk yield and income under small hold farmers’ management. Keywords : Block; supplement; partial budget; nutrient composition. DOI : 10.7176/JNSR/9-11-05 Publication date :June 30 th 2019
Highlights
Farmers in the tropics and developing countries often rely on the use of exotic genotypes to crossbreed their indigenous cattle so as to improve their milk yield
The low average DM intake recorded in cows supplemented with sole wheat bran, which had relatively lower crude protein content than those supplemented with concentrate mix and UMB, it might be attributed to the higher Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) content of the former compared to the total DM intake
The results showed that, milk yield was significantly affected (p
Summary
Farmers in the tropics and developing countries often rely on the use of exotic genotypes to crossbreed their indigenous cattle so as to improve their milk yield. Despite its large livestock resource base (99.4% indigenous and the rest crossbreds) and an ecological setting suitable for dairy production, is not yet self sufficient in milk production. The low productivity of the country’s livestock production system in general and the traditional sector in particular is mainly attributed to shortage of crossbreed dairy cows, lack of capital by dairy producers, inadequate animal feed resources both in terms of quality and quantity, unimproved animal husbandry systems, inefficient and inadequate milk processing materials and methods, low milk production and supply to milk processing centers and poor marketing and market information systems. Since feed is the major limiting factor; there should be expanded research on animal feeds and feeding in order to assess the quantity and quality of livestock feed stuffs as well as their value and suitability in low-cost rations balanced for milk production. This research was conducted to study on farm evaluation of nutrient supplementation and management technologies in Holstein Frisian cross breed dairy cow at small hold farmers
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
