SOURCE OF ENERGY SUPPLEMENT ENCHANCES MILK PRODUCTION IN BUNAJI COWS AT DIFFERENT PARITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.4939Keywords:
Energy supplement, cassava, maize, groundnut husk, Milk yieldAbstract
A research was conducted to examine the effect of energy-based supplements and parity on milk yield and quality using Bunaji dams at Bayero University, Kano. The experimental diets evaluated in cross over design were the treatments labeled: T1 (Control), T2 was (maize + cotton seed cake + 1% NaCl); T3 (Cassava + Cotton seed cake + 1% NaCl), T4 (Groundnut husk + cotton seed cake + 1% each NaCl +Molasses) and T4 After effect. The animals were offered supplements at 7:30 hours prior to milking
by hand. The milk extracted were measured and sub sample of milk were collected for laboratory analysis. The findings revealed milk chemical composition were significantly (P<0.05) influence by the dietary treatments. Animals fed supplements with groundnut husk had more acidic milk (pH 5.41), Fat (3.37%) compared to others. Milk production was improved (P<0.05) in dams fed cassava-based supplement (63%) compared to control. Parity 3 animals produced (P<0.05) milk with higher total
solids (44.48%), Phosphorus (5.05%) and Solid Non-Fat (40.87%). It is concluded that energy-based supplement increases milk yield compared to control. Dams in parity 3 had 2.8 folds more milk compared to animals in parity 1. It is therefore recommended that cassava be served as energy source to lactating dam for improve milk yield by 3 folds.
