The effects of concentrate and urea molasses mineral block on the body condition and milk production of dairy cows

摘要

An on-farm 120-day feeding trial involving 62 Holstein Friesian X Sahiwal crossbreeds was conducted to determine the effects of nutrient supplementation on body condition, hearthgirth, and milk production. The animals were blocked into two stages of lactation ( < 5 mo. and > 5 mo.) and then allotted into four dietary treatments in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement in RCBD. The treatments were as follows: I - concentrate and UMMB, II - concentrate, III - UMMB and IV - without concentrate and UMMB. All animals were. stall-fed with fresh grasses. Results showed that concentrate supplementation significantly improved the body condition score of the cows with or without UMMB. Hearthgirth was significantly biggest among cows given concentrate and UMMB, followed by those given only concentrate, and smallest for those without concentrates. On the other hand, milk production was significantly higher from cows given only concentrates compared to those provided both the concentrate and UMMB. Supplementation with UMMB improved milk yield comparable to those given both concentrate and UMMB. while the non-supplemented cows had the lowest milk production. The higher (17 percent) milk yield of cows given only concentrate than those given both the supplements indicates depletion and mobilization of body reserves for milk synthesis, as evidenced by the decrease in body condition score. In contrast, concentrate-fed cows without UMMB had to mobilize body reserves for of milk synthesis. The use of UMMB significantly increased milk production by 25 percent over those without supplement. Milk fat content was significantly increased with the supplementation of UMMB. However, among cows without concentrate, UMMB supplementation significantly improved fatcorrected milk yield by 35 percent. The study reveals that UMMB is an effective nutritional intervention in improving milk production of dairy cows fed with diets low in nutrient density, that is, an all-forage diet or rations with low levels of concentrate.