Improved Milk Production from Supplementation of Swamp Buffalo with Molasses Nutrient Blocks Containing 10% Urea

Peter Windsor,Russell Bush,James Young,Syseng Khounsy,Susan Martin,Peter Thomson

doi:10.3390/dairy2010009

Abstract

Milk production from Asiatic swamp buffalo is a new enterprise in Laos. As yields are limited, provision of high-quality cow-calf molasses nutrient blocks containing 10% urea (UMNB10) may improve productivity. A trial in a recently established commercial buffalo dairy examined dietary supplementation of lactating buffalo cows with UMNB10, with three groups of nine cows in mid-lactation randomly selected. Two groups received ad libitum access to UMBs with the remaining group free of block supplements. All animals were daily fed fresh Napier grass (30 kg), corn (750 gm), rice bran (1.45 kg), plus accessed fresh Mulatto grass. Daily milk production (DMP) and body condition score (BCS) were recorded for the 2 months of access to UMB. Average DMP for the two supplemented groups were 1.02 and 0.96 L, compared to 0.78 L for the control group, suggesting improved milk productivity of 31 and 24% from accessing UMB. Partial budget analysis identified a strong incentive for use of the molasses blocks, with a net profit of USD 408 and USD 295 over a 30-day period for the supplemented groups. A multi-intervention livestock development strategy that includes a combination of nutritional and health interventions has been proposed for scale-out to assist smallholder livestock farming efficiency in developing countries. The use of high-quality molasses blocks may be a simple motivator for these communities to increase the efficiency of large ruminant production, improving rural livelihoods, food security, and potentially, reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) from ruminant-derived foods.

Highlights

Livestock production accounts for approximately 40% of agricultural output in developed countries [1]
This research trial aimed to further examine the recent research findings in Laos conducted with beef animals, confirming that significant improvements in average daily gains (ADG) could accrue from supplementation with high-quality molasses nutrient blocks (MNB) and UMNB8 [13,14,15], with young calves having the highest ADG (251–265 g/day) presumably due to their access to increased milk from their dams [15]
The trial suggests an advantage of up to a 31% increase in daily milk production, albeit from a very low base milk yield level, as a result of block supplementation for several months

Summary

Introduction

Livestock production accounts for approximately 40% of agricultural output in developed countries [1]. In subsistence agricultural systems, mainly involving smallholder farmers in developing countries, livestock production is only approximately 20% of agricultural output. This situation has persisted, despite the rapidly rising demand for milk and meat in countries where there has historically been very limited access to these animal-source foods (ASF) rich in protein [1]. With global meat and milk production projected to increase another 19 and 33% by 2030, respectively [2], improved adoption of existing and emerging “best practice” technologies is required This includes improvement of feeding resources, adoption of preventive health management interventions and biosecurity, husbandry initiatives with optimal manure management, plus enhanced marketing strategies. As large ruminant production has been associated with high outputs of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe), it has been estimated

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