Effect of the offer of kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) on production and bovine milk quality composition

摘要

Theeffectoftheofferofkikuyugrass(Pennisetumclandestinum)onmilkproductionanditscompositionalqualityinHolsteincowsintheSavannahofBogotáwasevaluated.TheexperimentwascarriedoutatMarengoAgriculturalCenteroftheNationalUniversityofColombia,using18grazingcowsinearlyandmidlactation,between2and4parities,withanaverageliveweight(LW)of585kgandaaveragedailymilkproductionof23.0litres.Treatmentsconsistedofthreelevelsofofferofkikuyograss:2.6,3.3and4.0kgdrymatter(DM)/100kgLW.Theanimalsweresupplementedwithabalancedfeedofferedateachmilking(AMandPM).Intakeofkikuyuwasestimatedusingchromiumoxideasexternalmarkerandindigestibleaciddetergentfiber(iADF)asinternalmarker.nbsp;Kikuyugrassintakewashigherasforageofferincreased,14.6,15.6and18kgDM/cow/dforaforageofferof2.6,3.3and4.0kgDM/100kgLW,respectively.Anincreaseintheofferofkikuyugrassfrom2.6to4.0kgDM/LW100kgincreasedmilkproduction(P0.1)inearlylactationcowsbuttheeffectwasnotobservedinmidlactationcows.Milkproteinconcentrationincreasedaskikuyugrassofferincreased(P=0.06).nbsp;Weconcludedthatanincreaseintheofferbetween2.6and4.0kgDMofkikuyu/100kgLWnbsp;tends(notsignificantly)toincreasemilkproductionandproteinconcentrationinearlylactationcowsbutitincreasedmilkproteinconcentrationbutdidnotincreasemilkproductionnbsp;inmidlactationcows.