Effect of replacement of cottonseed cake with sunflower extraction on lactation performance of cows Bade R.N.*, Kank V.D., Patil M.B., Gadegaonkar G.M., Jagadale S.D., Phondba B.T. Department of Animal Nutrition Bombay Veterinary College, Mumbai-400 012, India. *Reprint request: Dr. R.N. Bade, Radhanagari, Miri Road, Behind New Court, Shevgaon, Ahemadnagar-414 502, India, Tel: +91-2429-223166; E-mail: dr_rakeshbade@yahoo.co.in
Abstract A 91 days feeding trial was undertaken on 18 crossbred cows (Gir X HF and Gir X Jersey) randomly divided into three groups of 6 cows each to study the effect of replacement of cottonseed cake with sunflower extraction on the milk yield and its composition. All the animals received a basal diet of concentrate mixture, green, hay and jowar straw. Groups I, II and III received a concentrate mixture in which cottonseed cake was replaced at 0, 50 and 75% level with sunflower extraction. The average daily milk yield of cows from groups I, II and III was 9.76±0.21, 9.77±0.20 and 9.12±0.17 kg, respectively. The average daily milk yield of group II was highest where as the group III had significantly (P£0.01) lower milk yield as compared to groups II and I. The average FCM yield was 9.07±0.09, 9.32±0.15 and 8.56±0.08 kg, for groups I, II and III, respectively and the apparent differences among different groups were statistically significant (P≤0.01). Total solids, fat, SNF, protein, ash and specific gravity of milk among different groups were statistically similar. It was concluded that 50 part cottonseed cake can be replaced by sunflower extraction to economize the cost of concentrate mixture without any adverse effect on milk yield and its composition. Top Keywords Cottonseed cake, Crossbred cows, Milk yield, Sunflower extraction. Top |