Plant Animal Relationship Division, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi-284003, India
*Regional Research Centre, IGFRI, Palampur-176062
**Directorate of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, IARI, New Delhi-110012
Crossbred (Sahiwal x Red Sindhi) cows (8) in mid lactation with average milk yield of 6–7 kg/day divided in to two equal groups were offered either sorghum stovers (SS) or ensiled sorghum stovers (ESS) ad lib as basal roughage, supplemented with 30 kg green berseem and one kg concentrate mixture for 90 days. The DM and DCP intake were comparable though TDN intake was higher (P<0.05) in ESS as compared to SS group. The digestibility of most of the nutrient was comparable in two groups except that of CP and total carbohydrates which was higher (P<0.05) in ESS as compared to SS fed group. Both milk yield and FCM were higher (P<0.05) in ESS than SS fed animals. Ensiling of SS showed no significant difference in milk composition of animals. It was inferred that nutrients utilization and milk production efficiency was better in cows fed ensiled sorghum stover as compared to stover feeding, resulting in economical milk production.
Sorghum stover, Silage, Nutrient utilization, Milk production, Cows
