Effect of Supplementation of Urea Molasses Mineral Block (UMMB) on the Milk Yield and Methane Production in Lactating Cattle on Different Plane of Nutrition Mohini Madhu, Singh G. P. Dairy Cattle Nutrition Division National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001(Haryana) India ABSTRACT Four experiments having two groups in each with different feeding regimes with or without UMMB supplementation were conducted on lactating crossbred cattle for estimation of nutrients utilization, milk production and methane emission. In experiment I, group A (I-1) animals were fed green fodder ad lib, wheat straw (1 kg) and concentrate mixture to meet the requirements and group B (I-2) was fed as that in group 1 alongwith UMMB. In experiment II, group A (II-1) animals were fed Green fodder (20 kg) and wheat straw ad lib and concentrate mixture to meet the requirements while in group B (II-2) 35% of the nutrients of concentrate mixture were supplied through UMMB. In experiment III, again the group A (III-1) was fed as that in group II-A (Full requirements) and group B (III-2) was fed 35% less of the requirements however, UMMB was supplemented. In experiment IV, group A (IV-1) was also fed with 35% less of the requirements while group B (IV-2) was fed as group A with UMMB. Dry matter intake per 100 kg b. wt. in group A and B of experiment I, II, III and IV was 2.68, 2.55; 2.45, 2.08; 2.14, 1.71; 1.71 and 2.27 kg respectivly and the variation among the groups was significant (P<0.05). Supplementation of UMMB did not influence the total DMI intake in experiment I and III when supply of concentrate mixture was as per the requirements however, supplementation to group fed 35% less concentrate mixture of their requirement through concentrate mixture (exp. IV) caused significant increase in total DMI from wheat straw. Non significant variation between the groups for digestibility of nutrients in all the four experiments indicated that decrease in supply of concentrate mix by 35% did not affect the digestibility of the feed. Lower milk yield (P<0.05) as a result of less nutrient supply in group II-2 was compensated by UMMB (III-2), however, no gain was observed when UMMB was supplemented over and above the requirements (group I-2). Methane production (g/d) was similar in both the groups in experiment I, but it increased significantly on decreasing the nutrient supply (group II-2). However, supplementation of UMMB in group III-2 the methane emission (178.97g) was similar to group III-1. Similar trend was observed when methane production was expressed per kg DMI or per kg milk produced. It can be concluded that supplementation of UMMB to lactating crossbred cows fed as per their nutritional requirments had no additional benefit however, supplementation of nutrients to cows fed on lower plane of nutrition (35% less) through concentrate mixture or UMMB improved DMI, digestibility of nutrients and decreased the methane emission. Top Key words UMMB, Milk yield, Cows and Methane. Top |