Abstract
The experiment was conducted with the objective to assess the effect of replacing vetch for concentrate mix on feed intake and digestibility as well as milk production and composition in lactating crossbred (Boran x Friesian) cows kept on a basal feed of urea- molasses treated wheat straw (UMTWS). Eight crossbred cows of similar milk yield (8-10 kg d-1), body weight (BW) and stage of lactation (early lactation), but differing in parities were arranged in 4 x 4 double Latin square design. The treatments included offering urea molasses treated wheat straw basal diet ad libitum and supplementation with concentrate mix (T1), and replacement of the concentrate mix with vetch (Vicia dasycarpa) hay at the level of 25% (T2), 50% (T3) and 75% (T4). The concentrate mix consisted of 74% wheat bran, 25% noug seed (Guizotia abyssinica) cake and 1% common salt. The CP content of UMTWS was 86.7 g/ kg dry matter (DM), whereas that of vetch hay and the concentrate mix were 199 and 225 g/ kg DM, respectively. The contrary was true for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content which was 767 g/ kg DM in UMTWS, and 545 and 479 g/ kg DM in vetch hay and the concentrate mix respectively. In sacco degradability studies showed that the concentrate mix and vetch were similar in rumen degradability parameters, except that rate of degradation was relatively faster for vetch hay. Total DM intake was higher (P 0.05) among treatments, except for cows in T3 that had higher (P 0.05) for cows in the different treatments. It is concluded that vetch hay could substitute 50% of the concentrate mix without compromising feed intake and digestibility of nutrients as well as milk yield and composition of lactating Boran x Friesian cows.
Highlights
Wheat straw is one of the major cereal crop residues produced in the world
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of replacement of a concentrate mix with vetch hay on feed intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients, milk yield and composition in lactating Boran x Friesian cows fed a basal diet of ureamolasses treated wheat straw (UMTWS)
The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was highest in UMTWS followed by vetch and the concentrate mix, respectively
Summary
Wheat straw is one of the major cereal crop residues produced in the world. As an example, around 2.2 million tones of wheat straw are produced annually in Ethiopia (CSA, 2003). Urea treatment of wheat straw under local conditions has raised its CP content by 5% and its in vitro OMD by 10% (Rehirahe and Ledin, 2004) Such treatment resulted in improved intake and digestibility, reported improvements on urea-based diets alone did not go beyond meeting maintenance nutrient requirements of animals (Smith et al, 1980). It is suggested that the use of improved forage legumes integrated into existing farming systems are valuable economic alternatives to purchased protein or energy rich concentrates as a practical on-farm solution for smallholder dairy production. One such forage legume is vetch (Vicia dasycarpa). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of replacement of a concentrate mix with vetch hay on feed intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients, milk yield and composition in lactating Boran x Friesian cows fed a basal diet of ureamolasses treated wheat straw (UMTWS)
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