Effect of Groundnut Cake Replacement with Whole Cottonseed or Cottonseed Cake on Performance of Lactating Crossbred Cows

Eighteen lactating crossbred cows in early stage of lactation were assigned to treatments to determine the effects of type of cottonseed product on nutrient intake, productive performance, feed efficiency and economics of production in a 150d experiment. Cows in control group were fed with wheat straw, chaffed green oats fodder and compounded concentrate mixture as per NRC (2001) while in Groups T1 and T2 cows were fed the same control ration except that 50% of groundnut cake in concentrate mixture was replaced with crushed whole cottonseed and expeller processed cottonseed cake, respectively. Results revealed that dry matter intake (DMI), body weight and body condition score were not influenced by partial replacement of groundnut cake with whole cottonseed (WCS) or cottonseed cake (CSC). Milk yield was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T1 group fed WCS than control and T2. Similarly, 4% fat corrected milk (FCM), energy corrected milk (ECM), solid corrected milk (SCM) and milk energy (ME) were also significantly (P<0.05) higher for the WCS fed group compared to control and CSC fed group. Milk fat (% and kg/d) was significantly higher and protein (%) was significantly lower with feeding WCS. Lactose, solid not fat (SNF) and total solids (%) were similar among treatments (P>0.05) but their yields (kg/d) increased with WCS based diet, however, feed efficiency (in terms of FCM/DMI) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T1 indicating that efficiency was improved by supplementing WCS in the respective group. It is concluded that replacement of GNC with WCS in the rations of lactating crossbred cows during early lactation significantly increased milk yield and milk fat and was cost effective as the net income per animal/day was higher with the animals fed WCS and CSC.