Evaluation of Whole Sugarcane based Rations in Lactating Crossbred Cows

The study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of feeding whole sugarcane based rations on the performance of lactating crossbred cows. Twenty lactating cows (370 kg BW) were divided in four similar groups viz. WS₀, WS₅₀, WS₇₅ and WS₁₀₀. Control group (WS₀) was fed on concentrate and green maize as roughage. Animals in groups WS₅₀, WS₇₅ and WS₁₀₀ groups were fed with concentrate and green chopped whole sugarcane at 50, 75 and 100 percent of total roughage DM requirement, respectively, and remaining roughage DM was provided through jowar kadbi. Experimental feeding was carried out for 180 days. A digestion trial was conducted at the end of experimental feeding. Digestibility of DM was higher in WS₁₀₀ animals fed solely on whole sugarcane as roughage portion of the diet. Digestibility of CP was significantly higher in animals in WS₁₀₀ fed 100% whole sugarcane than other groups, while the animals under WS₅₀ and WS₇₅ showed significantly higher CP digestibility than the control group (WS₀). The DCP and TDN contents were 7.98, 7.57, 7.87, 8.10 and 65.84, 62.67, 65.67, 68.16 percent in the WS₀, WS₅₀, WS₇₅ and WS₁₀₀ diets, respectively. There were no adverse effects on nutrient intake and utilization even when 100% whole sugarcane was used in the ration. There was no adverse effect on reproductive performance of crossbred cows. It is, therefore, concluded that whole sugarcane can be fed solely to lactating cows as source of roughage without adverse effect on production, reproductive performance and nutrient utilization.