Effect of complete feed block on dry matter intake and milk yield in crossbred cows

Abstract

The experiment was conducted with fifteen lactating crossbred cows (five in each treatment) during the month of April - July 2004 for a period of 100 days. The diet of T1 and T2 comprised wheat straw and concentrate mixture in the ratio of 60:40 in mash and densified block (CFB) form, respectively. The concentrate mixture contained mustard cake 35 parts, barley 25 parts, wheat bran 37 parts, urea 1 part, mineral mixture 1 part and common salt 1 part. In T3 diet, wheat straw was replaced with the grass in the form of block as in the case of T2. The dry matter intake was 10.15, 10.12 and 11.11 kg/d in T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The CP intake (g/d) was comparable in T 1(1097.28), T2(1060.82) and T3(1124.98). The digestibility coefficient of various nutrients did not differ significantly by the form of diets. Average milk yields were 6.24, 6.52 and 6.02 liter/d in T1, T2 and T3, indicating around 5% increase in milk yield in T2 than T3 but did not differ significantly. Wheat straw based complete feed block appears to be superior to sustain the milk production.