Effect of supplementing crossbred lactating dairy cows fed elephant grass based diets with Ia blab hay and a concentrate

Abstract

La blab {La blab purpureus {Sweet I) cv Rongai as a supplementary forage legume for lactatiug da iry cows (Fr!csian x
Zebu) fed dephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) bas~d diets with and without a concentrate was evaluated. Crossbred
(Friesian x Zebu) lactating da iry cows wit h live-weights of 405.5 (SD ±15) and 385.5 (SD ±15) and mean milk yields of
9.5 and 8.51itres respectively were used in two experiments a t Namulongc Agricu ltu ra l and Anima l Production
Research Institute. Effect of supplementing lactating c.rosshrcd dairy cows fed on elephant grass based diets with
labjab hay supplement on milk yield was ass essed in experiment 1. Addition oflab lah hay signifi can(ly increased
elcpnant grass dry matter intake (DMI). The optimum supplement level was 3 kg day ' (as fed), beyond which there was
a substitution effect. Sole feed ing on elephant grass resulted in lower (P9J.OS) total dry matter intake (TDMI) than
when lablab hay supplement was included. Da ily milk yield was significantly (P~O.OS) increased by lablab hay
supplementation up to 3 kg day-1
• Butterfat content was not a ffected by supplementa tion. The effect of supplementing
elephant grass fodder and 3 kg day- 1 of lablab hay as basal diets with a concentrate on th e performan ce ofl actating
crossbr ed da iry cows was assessed in Experiment II. Concentrate supplementation impaired DMl of elephant grass
but TDMI increased significantly (P~O.O S). Daily mill• yield was increased OS) by supplementing up 2 kg day1 of
a concentrate but there was no fu rther increase (P~.05) with the level of3 kg day1
• Butterfat content was not a ffected
by concentrate supplementation. Satisfactory performan ce of lactating crossbred dairy cows fed elepbant grass
fodder based diets can be obtained by supplementing \'l-ith lab lab hay and a concentra te.