PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF DAIRY COWS FED KIKUYU GRASS SILAGE

PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF DAIRY COWS FED KIKUYU GRASS SILAGE

 

A. A. Abd El-Hamid * and U.M. Abd El-Menem**

* Animal Production Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki , Giza , Egypt.

** Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University Egypt.

 

 

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to assess the effect of feeding kikuyu grass silage with  two levels of concentrate feed mixture ( 60 & 40 % ) on nutrient digestibility feeding value milk production, feed efficiency and economical efficiency of lactating cows.

Three digestibility trail and milk production were done using six lactating cows (435 ± 9.5 kg in average) using swing over method to evaluate the following experimental rations.

Control ration (C): 60% of concentrate feed mixture (CFM) + berseem hay (BH) ad libitum according to NRC (1989) requirement, T1: 60% CFM + kikuyu grass silage ad lib and T2: 40% CFM + kikuyu grass silage ad lib.

The main result showed that the total dry matter intake as kg / h / d or per 100 kg / B.W. increased with decreasing concentrate feed mixture. The digestion coefficient of DM and CP for ration T1 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the control while the digestion coefficient of CF, EE and NFE for ration T2 were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of control ration (C). Feeding values as TDN and DCP of ration T2 were the highest (p < 0.05) than other ration (T1 & C). The daily milk yield as fat corrected milk (FCM ) of T2 ration ( 12.24 kg ) was significantly ( p < 0.05 ) higher than C and T1 rations ( 10.60 and 11.27 kg ) respectively . The fat yield took the same trend of FCM. The feed efficiency of lactating cows fed ration contacting K.G.S were the best feed efficiency of milk production compared with the control ration.  The economical efficiencies and return per Kg FCM were higher far cows fed rations contain kikuyu grass as a silage (T1 and T2) than control ration (C).

The results indicated that, feeding ration K.G as silage can be used in lactating cows rations without any adverse effects.

Keywords: Llctating cows, digestibility, kikuyu grass silage, economic efficiency.

INTRODUCTION

 

In Egypt, one of the main importunate problems in field animal production is the shortage of feedstuffs especially during summer season and early autumn. Moreover high quality green forages are not available for covering requirements livestock during summer period as well as the concentrates feed mixtures quantity are limited and economically expensive

Abou-Akkada (1988) reported that the gab between the availability and requirements of animals from feed resources is wide

In summer season, the available feeds (mainly concentrate and straws) cover only 39% and 22% of animal requirements for energy and protein respectively El-Serafy (1991) 

Several attempts were undertaken in Egypt to increase and improve animal feeds as partial solution for their acute shortage during summer period (Ghoneim, 1964; Abou – Raya et al., 1965;  Ibrahim et al., 1980, 1982 and 1983;  Shalaby et al., 1985 and Allam et al., 1980).

Many efforts have been directed to increase the available feeds in summer by using selected and improved local summer forage (Ibrahim et al., 1985 and Shalaby et al., 1985). Other efforts were directed to introduce new summer forage such as Kikuyu grass Abd El-Hamid (1998 and 2003) and El-Tahan (2007). Kikuyu grass is the predominant summer grass pasture used for milk production on the east coast of New South Wales and is also important in certain areas of Queensland and Western Australia. Cutting surplus summer and autumn growth for silage would improve forage utilization and the management of there pastures (Kaiser et al., 1993).

This forage was found to be potentially gross productive forage crop having relatively high feeding values. Abd El-Hamid (1998).

The present experiments were therefore conducted in order to study effect of feeding Kikuyu grass silage with two levels of concentrate on the productive performance of dairy cow.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 

This study was conducted during (2006-2007) at El-Gemza Experimental Station Animal production Research Center , Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt to examine the effect of feeding kikuyu grass silage with two levels of concentrate ( 60 & 40% ) on feeding value , milk production and economical efficiency of lactating cows.

Three digestibility trails were conducted using 3 dairy cows to determine nutritive value of tested ration and six lactating cows averaged (435 kg live body weight) were used in feeding trial by using "Swing Over" method (El-Serafi , 1968) to study the effect of feeding two different levels of concentrate feed mixture along with kikuyu grass ad lib on milk yield and its composition. The animals were chosen after passing the lactating peak period. The experimental rations are as follows:

Control ration (C): 60% of concentrate feed mixture (CFM) + berseem hay (BH) ad lib according to requirement NRC (1989).

T1: 60% (CFM) + kikuyu grass silage ad lib.

T2: 40% (CFM) + kikuyu grass silage ad lib.

Chemical composition of ingredients and tested rations are presented in Table 1. The control ration was given in the first period, flowed by the two tested rations then back to the control ration in the last period      (Figure 1).

A transition period of 10 days proceeded each experimental period which lasted for 15 days. The daily milk yield during each period was considered as a valuable average representing the milk yield at the middle days of the period. By calculating mid production at the two middle days of control periods and length of the period between the two middle the two middle days the natural daily decrease in milk yield could be calculated. Milk sample were represented 0.5% from the mid production during the main period of milk production collection. The milk yield at any day between the two middle days could be also calculated assuming that the central ration was given throughout the whole experimental period and that lactating curve between the two middle days was a straight line with a negative slope. The slope of such curve would be the rate of daily decrease. When comparing the actually produced milk at the middle days of the rested period with the middle days of the tested periods with the calculated milk yield from the curve at that date one compare the effect of two tested ration by studying the difference of milk yield at that date . The absolute difference in milk yield varies between individuals owing to the variation in milk yield among them and at the start of the experiment. Therefore the relative difference in milk yield obtained as a percentage from the average milk yield at middle day of the initial control.

Nutrient digestibilities were determined using acid in soluble ash (A I A) technique of Van keulen and Young (1977). Feeds, feces and milk samples were analyzed according to A. O. A.C (1990).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data of the experiment were statistical analyses using SPSS 1998 system. The differences between means were tested by using Duncan's New Multiple Rang test (Duncan 1955).

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

 

Silage quality:

            The PH value is the simple test for the predication of silage quality (Table 2). Many other investigators indicated that good quality silage should have a PH value between 3.8 – 4.5 (Helbrg, 1963; Shehata, 1966; Ranjhan, 1980; Saddick et al., 1993; and Ahmed, 1998). All parameters within the normal range of good silage quality. These values were nearly similar to these reported by (Gab Alla, 1991; Bendary and Younis, 1997; Khinizy et al., 1997 and El-Ready, 2000) for Rhodes grass silage.

 

Digestibility trials:

The daily total DM intake (Table 3 ) as kg / h / d or kg / 100 kg B.W. of cows fed T2 was significantly ( P

Digestion coefficient of  DM and CP for ration T1 ( 60 % CFM + KGS ad lib ) were significantly ( P< 0.05 ) higher than control ration    ( 60 % CFM + BH ad lib ), while insignificantly higher than there of T2 ( 40% CFM + KGS ad lib ).  Data presented in Table 3.  The CF, EE and NFE digestibilites of T2 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than these of control ration. In the same time the significance difference (p<0.05) was shown between T1 and T2 with respect to NFE digestibility, while differences with CF and EE were not significant. It could be noticed that the digestion coefficient of various nutrient for rations contains KGS were significantly ( P < 0.05 ) higher than control ration may be due to associated effect of feeds ( concentrates + green forages silage).

The nutritive values as TDN and DCP of ration T2 were significantly (P

It is noticed that the rations contains K.G.S. significantly improved nutrient digestibility and feeding values that may be due to high palatable of silage kikuyu grass and to associated effect between green forage and concentrate feed mixture.

 

 

 

Table 2: Quality measurements of silage made from kikuyu grass.

 (Acetic acid, Lactic acid, Butyric acid) expressed on DM basis; NH3-N expressed as percentage of total nitrogen.

 

Table 3: Feed intake digestibility and nutritive values of tested rations.

a, b, c Mean in the same row with different  superscripts differ (P< 0.05)

 

 

Similar results were absorbed by El-Tahan (2007) for cows, Abd El-Rahman et al. (2004) for sheep fed kikuyu grass and Ensminger       et al. (1990) on kikuyu grass.

 

Performance of lactating cows:

Milk yield.

            The average daily actual milk yield ( Table 4 ) of lactating cows fed experimental rations was 11.50 kg for initial control ( C ) while the average daily milk yield as calculated for lactating cows fed 1st tested ration (T1 and 2nd tested ration T2 were 12.15 and 13.00 kg respectively. The  milk  yield  were  higher   (P< 0.05)  by 5.65%  and  13.04%  for  ration  T1

Table 4: Average daily milk yield fat corrected milk (FCM) and fat yield of lactating cow fed the experimental rations.

a, b, c Mean in the same row with different  superscripts, differ (P< 0.05)

 

and T2 than control ration (C), respectively. The same trend was obtained for calculated fat corrected milk (FCM). These results mean that milk yield calculated as FCM was improved by feeding rations containing kikuyu grass as silage.

Also, the data in the same (Table 4) revealed that the rate of increasing milk fat yield was 6.91% in ration T1 and 17.42 % in 2nd tested ration complaining with control ration (C). The results of fat yield showed that the lactating cows fed rations contained kikuyu grass as silage improved fat yield comparing with the traditional ration.

 

Milk constituents:

Data in Table 5 revealed that the T2 ration containing 40% CFM plus kikuyu grass silage ad lib appeared to significantly (P < 0.05) higher with  moisture, TS, protein and lactase of milk than those of T1 and control ration, except protein percentage was not significant between T2 and control ration.

These data indicated that, animals rations containing kikuyu grass silage tented to improve and increase fat and SNF percentage of milk, with no significant differences.

      

Feed efficiency and Economical efficiency:

 The feed efficiency as kg feed / kg FCM from lactating cows feed all experimental rations are illustrated in Table 6.

 

Table 5: Milk Chomical constituent % of dairy cow fed the experimental ration.

a, b, c Mean in the same row with different  superscripts differ (P< 0.05).

 

Table 6: Feed efficiency and Economical efficiency of lactating cows  for the tested ration.

Price of feed stuff and products PT/kg, CFM= 200, BH= 100, KG= 25 and Milk = 275

 

The values of feed efficiency were 0.88, 0.84 and .081 kg feed / kg FCM for ration C, T1 and T2 respectively. These results showed that lactating cows fed ration contacting K.G.S were the best feed efficiency of milk production compared with the control ration

The economical efficiency as cost of feed intake required to produce 1 kg FCM from lactating cows feed all experimental rations are illustrated in Table 6.

  The values of economical efficiency were 1.83, 2.26 and 3.04 for ration C, T1 and T2 respectively. These results showed that, lactating cows fed ration contacting K.G.S were the best economical efficiency of milk production compared with the control due to increasing milk yield and decreasing feed cost as reported by (Mahmoud et al., 1992; El-Sayes et al., 1997 and khinizy et al., 1997) .Also El-Tahan (2007) found the same trend for lactating cows fed rations containing kikuyu grass as green forage.

Data reveled that, the tested ration containing kikuyu grass silage (T1&T2)showed the better economical efficiency with rate of 23.50% and 66.12% than those control ration ., respectively. Moreover T2 (containing 40% CFM plus kikuyu grass silage ad lib) appeared the best ration. Also, the return per kg FCM as percentage of control ration gave the highest value, being 130.13% and 171.66%., respectively.         

In conclusion, it could be concluded that, using kikuyu grass silage ad lib with concentrate feed mixture in dairy cows rations tended to higher digestibility of all nutrients and nutritive value. Moreover, it increased feed intake (Palatability) and improved both milk production and economical efficiency.        

 

RRFERENCES

 

Abd El-Hamid , A.A. (2003) . Effect of different levels of green forages and complete rations on productive performance of Ruminant animal Ph.D. Thesis, Fac, Agric, Zagazig Univ, Egypt.

Abd El-Hamid . A.A. (1998). Nutritional evaluation of some new green forages sown under Egyptian condition. M.Sc. thesis fac , Agric , Zagazig Univ. Egypt.

Abd-El-Rahman G.A. ; H.M. Saleg ; Faten F. Abou Ammou ; A.A. El-Tahan and A.A., Abd El-Hamid (2004). Effect of fedding kikuyu Grass with different levels of concentrate feed mixture on performance of growing lambs Egypt . Appl. Sci., 19 ( 7A) 23-39.

 

 

 

Abou-Raya , A.K; El-Moursi A.A. and Ibrahim S.A.A. ( Mrs ) (1965) . The effect of interceding of  (Italin Raye Grass) IRG     (Lolium maltifflorm) with Egyptian clover (trifolium alexandrinum L.) on chemical and botanical analysis of the herbage. Agric. Res. And Rev., Cairo, 43-99.

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Allam Sabbah, M.; Ibrahim. S. A. A.; Abou-Raya, A. K. and Allam, S. A. (1980). The effect of interseeding Rye grass (IRG) with Clover on the level of some minerals and their balance in metabolism trials with sheep fed prepared hay. Ain Shams Univ. Fac. Agric., Bull. 1260.

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Bendary, M.M. and M.M. Younis (1997).Evaluation of maize stalks for feeding dairy cows. Egypt. J. Appl., Sci.,  12 (8): 11.   

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El-Ready, K.F.A. (2000). Effect of dietary corn silage on dairy cattle performance. M.Sc . Thesis. Menofiya Univ. Shebin El –Kom , Egypt.           

El- Sayes , M.F. ; M.R.M. Mostafa and M.K. Hathout (1997) . Nutritional and economic efficiency for using the maize silage in fattening buffalo calves locally, 5th world buffalo congress , Animal prod Res Inst A.R.C. PP 386 , Giza , Egypt

El-Serafi . A.M. (1968). Some nutritional studies on the suitable combination of molasses with certain feeding stuffs. M. Sc. Thesis Fac., Cairo University, Egypt.

 El-Serfy A. M. (1991). Efficiency of converting Egyptian clover to milk and meat production in two models of animal production in A. R. E. during years, 1985 and 1990. 3rd Sci. Symp. on  Animal, Poultry and Fish Nutrition, Sakha, Kafr-El-Seikh, 26 – 28 Nov. P. 119 – 133.

 

Ensminger M.E. Oldfield , J.E. and Heiemann , W.W. (1990). Feeds and Nutrition the Ensminger publishing company, clovis, California U.S.A.

El- Tahan A.A.H.(2007). Effect of  feeding different levels from kikuyu grass on Friesian lactating cows performance as a summer green forage. Egyptian J. Nutrition and Feeds, 10 (2): Special Issue: 101-113.

Gab Alla, S. A. H. Z. (1991). Technology of making silage with special reference to its nutritive value. M.Sc. Fac. Agric. Zagazig Univ., Egypt.

Ghoneim, A. (1964). Animal Nutrition.  6th ed. Anglo Egyptian Library , Cairo ( in Arabic )

Helbrg, A. (1963). Improved Silage. Med .300., Jordbwkstek. Inst Uppeala, Chem. Abst. 1964, 61:1670bc.     

Ibrahim S.A.A. (Mrs ) ; Abou Raya A.K.; Shalaby , A.S. and Gabra M.A. (1980) . The productivity nutritive analysis and predicted feeding value of napier grass as affected by cutting hight ( stage of growth ) and year of growth , Zagazig Univ., Fac. Agric. , Bull., 157.

Ibrahim S.A.A. (Mrs) ; Meherz , A.Z.; El-Shinawy , M.M. and El-Kholy , S.G. (1982) . The effect of interseeding clover with Italian Rye grass (I.R.G.) 1. The composition yield digestibility and feeding value of the green herbage, Zagazig Univ., Fac. Agric , Bull 649.

Ibrahim , S.A.A. (Mrs) ; Shalaby A.S. and Gabra M.A. (1985). The productivity composition digestibility feeding value of sweet sorghum and sordan 77 as affected by seeding rate and cutting hight . J. Agric . Sci., Mansoura Univ., 10 (2) : 358-365 .

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Kaiser, A. G; E.G. Havilah ;G. D.Chopping and R .G. Waller.           ( 1993).  Northern dairy feed base 2001.4. Feeding system during winter and spring. Tropical Grassland, 27,180-211.  

Khinizy , A.E.M.; R.T. fouad ; M.M. Mohy El-Deen Bader ; Motter and A.A.M. Fahmy (1997). Effect of feeding whole green maize silage with urea molasses mineral mixture on performance of buffalo calves.  Egypt J. Appl. Sci., 12 : 408.

Mohamoud, A. M.; M. M. Bendary; M. A. Harfoush and G. A. Ramadan (1992). Effect of feeding lactating cows corn silage on milk production compared with traditional summer and winter rations.  J. Agric Sci., Mansoura Univesity , 17: 1904.

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الاداء الانتاجى للابقار الحلابة المغذاة على سبلاج حشیشة الکوکیا

 

ایمن عبدالحی عبدالحمید *- اسامة محمد عبدالمنعم*

*   معهد بحوث الانتاج الحیوانی – وزارة الزراعة- جیزة – ج.م.ع.

**  قسم الانتاج الحیوانی - کلیة الزراعة – جامعة الزقازیق- الزقازیق – ج.م.ع.

 

أجریت هذه الدراسة بمحطة بحوث الإنتاج الحیوانى بالجمیزة التابعة لمعهد بحوث الإنتاج الحیوانى بهدف الوقوف على مدى تأثیر التغذیة بسبلاج حشیشة الکوکیا للشبع على معاملات الهضم والقیمةالغذائیةومحصول اللبن للأبقار الحلابة

تم إجراء 3 تجارب هضم باستخدام 3 أبقار، وتجربة انتاج لبن باستخدام 6ابقار حلابة بطریقة العودة لذى بدء0 وذلک باستخدام العلائق التجریبیة التالیة:

1- 60 % من مخلوط علف مصنع + دریس برسیم للشبع ( علیقة المقارنة)

2- 60  % من مخلوط علف مصنع + سبلاج حشیشة الکوکیا للشبع ( المعاملة الأولى).

3- 40 % من مخلوط علف مصنع + سبلاج حشیش ة الکوکیا للشبع ( المعاملة الثانیة).

وکانت أهم النتائج المتحصل علیها کالآتی:-

1-  المادة الجافة المأکولة (کجم/رأس یومیاً )تزداد بنقص العلف المرکز.

2 -  تفوقت معنویاً معاملات هضم کل من المادة الجافة والبروتین الخام للمعاملة الأولى (60 % مخلوط العلف المرکز + سیلاج حشیشة الکوکیا للشبع) عن مجموعة المقارنة ( 60 % مخلوط من العلف المرکز+ دریس برسیم للشبع ) بینما کانت معاملات هضم الألیاف والدهن والکربوهیدرات الذائبة للمعاملة الثانیة (40 % مخلوط العلف المرکز + سیلاج حشیشة الکوکیا للشبع ) تفوقت معنویاً عن مجموعة المقارنة

3- تفوقت معنویاً المعاملة الثانیة فى قیم المواد المهضومة الکلیة والبروتین الخام المهضوم عن المعاملة الأولى و مجموعة المقارنة

4-سجلت المعاملة الثانیة اعلى کمیة لبن یومى وأعلى محصول دهن

5- سجلت المعاملة الثانیة اعلى کفاءة تحویل للغذاء

6- بزیادة سیلاج حشیشة الکوکیا کعلف أخضر ارتفعت الکفاءة الاقتصادیة للمعاملتین الأولى والثانیة وتفوقتا على علیقة المقارنة

وتوضح نتائج هذه الدراسة: أن تغذیة الابقار الحلابة على سیلاج حشیشة الکوکیا للشبع مع مستویین مختلفین من مخلوط العلف المرکز ( 60، 40 % ) أدى إلى تحسین معظم معاملات الهضم والقیم الغذائیةوکمیةاللبن الیومى والکفاءة الاقتصادیة وان استخدام نسبة 40% علف مرکز مع سیلاج حشیشة الکوکیا للشبع ادى الى زیادة الکفاءة الغذائیة والاقتصادیة. 

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