Effect of Feeding Graded Level of Dried Acacia Saligna Leaves on Milk Yield and Milk Composition of Crossbred Dairy Cows Fed Grass Hay as Basal Diet

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding graded level of Acacia saligna leaves on dry matter intake, milk yield and milk composition of crossbred dairy cows. Four treatments namely grass hay + 3.00kg wheat bran as a control (T1), control + 2.50Kg A. saligna leaves per day (T2), control + 3.75kg A. saligna leaves per day (T3), control and 5kg A. saligna leaves per day (T4). The experiment lasted for 120 days at four periods (each period containing 20 days) following 10 days adaptation through cross over design using four lactating cows. Feed offered, refused and milk yield were measured daily. For milk composition, milk samples were analyzed from each treatment during the second and last week of each period using lactoscan milk analyzer. CP contents were 6.55, 16.2 and 14.8 for native grass hay, wheat bran and dried A. saligna leaves, respectively. The milk fat contents were 5.2, 4.24, 5.1 and 4.6 for T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The protein contents were also 3.0, 3.97, 3.10 and 3.06 for T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The average milk yield for the treatments was ranged from 6.26-6.61 lit/day. The results showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in daily dry matter intake and milk compositions but there was significant difference (P<0.05) in milk yield.  Supplementation of lactating cows with dried A. saligna leaves increased milk yield. Hence, dried A. saligna leaves can be used as alternative feed sources for dairy farming.

Keywords: Dry matter intake, Feed intake, Milk quality, Supplementation.