Feed Intake and Nutrient Digestibility in Dairy Cows Feed Rations Containing Soybean Meal or Cotton Seed Meal Based Concentrate Mixtures

Abstract

Six lactating dairy cows were fed rations containing soybean meal (SBM) or cotton seed cake (CSC) based concentrate mixtures. Animals of the SBM and CSC groups were individually offered daily concentrate mixture containing maize grain 70 and SBM 30 parts by weight (CMM+SBM) and CM, containing maize grain 70 and CSC 30 parts by weight (CMM+CSC), respectively along with limited fresh napier bajra hybrid green fodder (CO-3) and ad lib. jowar straw. Besides, extra 1.8 kg CSC was offered to the animals of the CSC group. The digestibility of DM and CP was lower in the animals of the CSC group than the SBM group. There was no difference in digestibility of OM, EE, CF and NFE between the CSC and SBM group. The CP% in the rations of the two groups was similar (12.59 and 13.60%) while DCP% in the ration of the CSC group (8.61) was lower than the SBM group (9.95). However, the TDN content of the ration of the CSC group (73.11) was higher than the SBM group (63.07). The exclusive feeding of mixture of maize grain and soybean meal as home-made concentrate mixture to dairy animals was superior to the mixture of maize grain and cotton seed cake in terms of digestibility and nutritive value of the ration.