Abstract
Inadequate and low quality feed resources and declining soil fertility limit smallholder dairy production and crop yields in western Kenya. Integrating legumes into mixed crop–livestock smallholder production systems may improve feed resources and soil fertility. Mucuna [ Mucuna pruriens var. utilis (L.) DC (Wright) Burck] and lablab [ Lablab purpureus L. (Sweet)] are adapted legumes that can serve both functions, but data are limited which assess their use as supplements to cattle diets. The objective was to evaluate the potential benefits to dairy cow performance of feeding mucuna and lablab cv. Rongai hays as supplements to a basal diet of mature napiergrass [ Pennisetum purpureum (Schum.) cv. Bana]. Eight multiparous Friesian cows were used in two 4×4 Latin squares. Treatments were (i) napiergrass basal diet fed alone (NG), (ii) napiergrass supplemented with mucuna hay (MH), (iii) napiergrass supplemented with lablab hay (LH), and (iv) napiergrass supplemented with a commercial dairy meal (CDM). The supplements were fed at iso-nitrogenous levels to meet the crude protein (CP) requirement of a 350-kg lactating cow producing 8–10 kg milk day −1. The MH, LH, and CDM treatments increased ( P<0.01) total dry matter intake (TDMI) (130, 136, and 142 g kg −1 BW 0.75, respectively) compared to NG (108 g kg −1 BW 0.75). Supplementation also increased ( P<0.01) apparent DM digestibility (587, 625, and 615 g kg −1, for MH, LH, and CDM, respectively) compared to NG (558 g kg −1) and daily yield of 4% fat corrected milk (FCM) (4.20, 4.15, and 5.21 kg, for MH, LH, and CDM, respectively) compared to NG (3.69 kg). Supplements increased mean body condition score, but they had no effect on body weight (BW) gain. Results show that milk production can be increased by supplementing a napiergrass-based diet with mucuna or lablab hay, highlighting the importance of integrating legumes into the low-input, mixed cropping systems in the tropics.
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