Voluntary feed intake and nutrient utilization in lactating crossbred cows fed ad libitum green berseem with concentrate replaced by wheat bran

摘要

41 lactating cows, 334-406 kg body weight, in the first 2-3 months of calving, were divided into 3 groups of 15, 14 and 12, respectively. Group I was fed on concentrate mixture as per milk yield (National Research Council, 1989) and groups II and III were fed on wheat bran 2 and 4 kg, respectively. All groups were given wheat straw 2 kg and green berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) ad libitum. During 115 days of feeding 2 digestion trials were conducted after 30-45 days and 60-90 days of feeding. Thedigestibility of various organic nutrients was similar in all groups. CP (g) and total digestible nutrient (kg) intake was 1832 and 6.80, 1885 and 7.33, 1684 and 6.59, in groups I, II and III, respectively, in trial 1; in trial 2, values were 1925 and 8.48, 1827 and 6.82, 8.00 and 7.77, respectively. Nutrient intake indicated that the diets can support a milk yield of 12 to 15 kg daily. Wheat bran can thus serve as the sole component of concentrate diets with green berseem ad libitum in lactating cows.