Energy, protein, dry matter and water gap analysis in dairy cows kept under cut and carry fodder based feeding system.

Description

There is a gap in dry matter, water, energy and protein intake of dairy cows kept in cut and carry fodder-based feeding systems in Sub-Saharan countries, Rwanda included. Data on feed characterization were computed using the FarmDESIGN models by Groot and Oomen (2016), while data on cows’ production requirements were calculated using LIGAPS dairy models. Data were analyzed using a general linear model (GLM) in SPSS. Results on feed characteristics showed that the average nutritive value of the offered fodder was 25% dry matter (DM), 58.5% neutral detergent fibre (NDF), 9.8% crude protein (CP), and 6 MJ of metabolizable energy (ME) per kg DM. The average daily feed intake was 9 kg DM, 35 litres of water, 898 g of CP, and 55 MJ of ME, resulting in milk production of 8.8 litres per day across both sites. However, the average requirement for maintaining a dairy cow with a body weight of 430 kg and a target milk production of 16.5 litres per day was 15 kg of DM, 57 Litres of water, 1907 g of CP, and 137 MJ of ME. This resulted in daily deficits of 6 kg DM, 21.6 litres of water, 1,094 g of CP, and 83.7 MJ of ME, along with a 7.6-litre shortfall in daily milk yield. Available fodder in the dry season is low in quantity and quality for sustaining maintenance and milk production and measures of storing enough fodders that are of good quality are much needed. These findings will be used by researchers in developing dairy diet models at the household level. For dairy feed manufacturers, this analysis will guide proper rationing of high-concentrate ingredients rich in energy and protein, in line with cows’ nutritional requirements. Identifying the gap in available feed resources will encourage farmers to adopt effective feeding management practices that enhance energy, protein, and water intake leading to improved milk production

Steps to reproduce

A representative sample size of 385 smallholder farmers was determined according to Fischer et al.,(1998). A total of 248 and 145 households in the lowlands and the highlands were selected by a simple random sampling method (Mohsin, 2016). Sixty-six (66) and thirty (30) smallholder farms were purposively selected for having at least one lactating dairy cow under fodder-based diets with cut and carry feeding systems. Data were collected by cross-sectional. Parameters were cow body weight, parity, age, days in lactation, daily DM feed intake, water intake and daily milk production. Body weight was estimated using a tape measure before morning feeding. Milk production was recorded using graduated plastic jars after each milking session. Water intake was recorded based on the number of graduated jerry cans provided to cows daily. Feeds were put in bags and weighed using a hanging balance before being exposed to cows. Leftovers were weighed the next morning. Composite feed samples of 250g were analyzed for DM, CP, NDF, and ME. The DM content was determined by oven-drying the samples at 60oC for three days. Protein was analyzed by the Kjeldhal method (AOAC, 2023). NDF was determined using ANKOM fibre bags F57, 25 micro porosities where samples were rinsed using neutral detergent solution (NDS) for two hours (AOAC, 2023). ME in feeds was determined according to Groot and Oomen (2016). DMIR=BWx3.5(Atlay and Kahriman,2020). Daily milk performance=estimated milk suckled by calf+hand milk yield. Milk yield gap=potential milk yield-daily milk yield.DM intake=DM served feeds-leftovers. GapDMI=DMI requirement-DMI. Free water intake requirement=12.3+2.15×dry matter intake requirement+0.73×Potential milk (Erickson and Kalscheur,2019). Water intake gap=water required per day - water provided per day. ME in feeds=2.2+(0.136×G24) + (0.057×CP)+(0.0029×CP²); G24=Gas volume after 24hours (Groot and Oomen,2016). ME intake=ME in feeds x DMI. The energy for maintenance=BW^0.75 × 0.589 (Van der Linden et al.,2021) . The energy for potential milk production=5.023 × Potential milk (Van der Linden et al.,2019 ). ME energy intake gap=Total ME required for potential production-the current ME intake. CPintake=CP in feedsxDMI. ME maintenance=BW^0.75×0.589 (Van der Linden et al., 2021). ME for potential milk production=5.023×Potential milk (Van der Linden et al., 2021). ME intake gap=Total ME required for potential production - the current ME intake. CPintake=CP in feeds×DMI. CP for maintenance=6.27×Metabolic weight (MW=BW^0.75) (Van der Linden et al., 2021). CP for potential milk=82g×Potential milk (Van der Linden et al., 2021). CP gap=CP required for both maintenance and potential milk-current CP intake.

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