Journals › Tropical Agricultural Research
Effects of Two Levels of Dietary Energy Content on Milk Production and Serum Metabolites in Early Lactation Temperate Crossbred Dairy Cows Fed Guinea Grass ( Megathyrsus maximus ) Based Diets
Tropical Agricultural Research 34(3): 200–211 · 2023
https://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v34i3.8582
Abstract
The current study investigated the association of two levels of metabolizable energy (ME) content on milk production, composition, and blood metabolites of temperate crossbred (Jersey x Frieician) dairy cows fed with Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and concentrates (50:50 on a DM basis) based total mixed ration (TMR). Twelve multiparous temperate crossbred dairy cows were randomly allocated to each dietary treatment (n=6) in a randomized block design. The required energy diet (RE) was predicted to supply the recommended level (100%) of ME, and the high energy diet (HE) was predicted to supply 10% more than the recommended level (110%) of the daily ME requirements of the dairy cows. Dry matter intake, body weight, and milk yield were recorded, and feed and blood samples were obtained for proximate and blood metabolite analysis during the 14 weeks experimental period. No treatment effects were observed (P>0.05) on BW, milk fat, SNF, protein, and milk urea nitrogen or on blood metabolites such as serum non esterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxy butyric acid, Albumin, Ca and P. Compared to the cows fed with RE, HE diet fed cows had high (P 0.05) at 2, 6, and 8 weeks of the experimental period. Until the 4th week of lactation, dietary treatment had no effect (P>0.05) on milk yield, but from the 4th to the 14th week, cows fed with HE had a higher (P
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