Study on Feeding Effect of Different Levels of Protein and Energy on Production Performance of Pregnant Mother and Neo-Natal Calves

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to assess feeding effect on productive and reproductive performances of pre-natal and post-natal Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) cows under on-station condition. A total of 16 pregnant RCC cows having pregnancy 6-7 months and between 1-3 parities was selected for the study and was allocated randomly into four dietary treatment groups. There are four type diets, i.e., T0 (standard diet according to National Research Council (NRC), 1995), T1 (5% below standard diet), T2 (5% above standard diet), T3 (10% above standard diet) and a control treatment T4 (maintained as farm practice). The energy and protein requirements of experimental cows were determined as per standard developed by NRC. The results revealed that crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME, MJ/day) requirements among cows of different dietary groups were not significantly different, although CP requirements between T1 and T3 differed significantly. Total dry mater (DM) and ME intake differed significantly (P 0.05) among cows of all dietary groups, but CP intake from roughage varied significantly (P 0.05) variation of calf birth weights for all dietary groups, although lower birth weight was found in farm practice groups T4. Gestation length and postpartum heat period of cows of different dietary treatment groups revealed that there was no significant (P > 0.05) variation for those traits among cows of different dietary treatment groups, although there seems to be shorter postpartum heat for cows in dietary group T2 and longer period in farm practice group T4. Total and daily milk yield up to 30 days and 90 days of cows had no significant (P > 0.05) effect for different dietary treatment groups, although there seems to be slightly better milk production performance for dietary T2 and T0, respectively for 30 days and 90 days total and daily milk yield. There were no significant (P > 0.05) changes of total and daily weight gain of cows for all dietary groups, however cows of standard dietary group T0 performed slightly better than those of cows of other dietary groups. Milk composition of cows of different dietary treatment groups showed that there was no significant (P > 0.05) variation on milk composition for cows of different dietary groups. Post-natal body condition score (BCS) for the 1st, 3rd and 4th months differed significantly (P < 0.05) among different dietary groups, while not found significant difference on the 2nd month. Therefore, it may be concluded that pre-natal feeding has significant effect on body weight gain, birth weight of calves and milk production of dairy cows. Hence, it is suggested that better nutrition may be provided during pre-natal period to harvest good quality of calves and higher milk yield from post-natal period.