Effects of feeding rice-based dried distillers grains with solubles and condensed distillers solubles on feed intake, milk production and fatty acid composition in lactating crossbred cows

This study investigated the effects of feeding of rice-based dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) and condensed distillers solubles (CDS) to replace mustard oil cake on feed intake, milk production and fatty acid composition in lactating cows. Twenty crossbred lactating cows were randomly divided into five groups. The cows were fed a control diet without DDGS and CDS; the same control diet containing 7.5 and 15% DDGS, and 5 and 10% CDS in the concentrate mixture on a DM basis with similar crude protein and energy concentrations. Feed intake and feed efficiency were similar among the groups, except for a linear increase (P=0.06 to 0.02) of feed efficiency were observed in the DDGS groups after day 28. Milk yield (10.1, 10.0, 11.1 and 9.75 kg/d in control, 7.5% DDGS, 15% DDGS, 5% CDS and 10% CDS, respectively) was similar among the groups. Milk fat, lactose and solid-not-fat percentage did not differ among the groups; however, milk protein percentages in some periods of feeding were higher or tended to be higher (P=0.04 to 0.10) in the CDS group than in control, which resulted in higher milk protein yield in the CDS groups. The concentrations of different fatty acids, including total saturated fatty acids, mono-unsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in milk, were not different. However, the composition of few fatty acids changed in DDGS and CDS added diets. In conclusion, rice DDGS at 15 and CDS at 10% containing similar crude protein and energy concentrations can be added to the concentrate feeds without affecting milk production performance in lactating cows.