Effect of feeding protected protein on reproductive performance of lactating cows

Crossbred cows (15; 375±59.5 kg BW and yielding 7.7±1.3 1 milk) were divided into 3 equal groups and maintained on 3 isonitrogenous and isocaloric concentrate mixtures containing untreated ground nut cake (GNC) or GNC treated with formaldehyde @ 0.5 g (GNCF₁) or 1.0 g (GNCF₂) per 100 g CP for 90 days. All the animals were fed wheat straw ad lib and 5 kg green berseem. Nutrient intake was comparable among treatments. The postpartum oestrus and service periods (94.20; 178 days) were shortest (P<0.05) in GNCF₂ than in GNC (121.2; 259 d) followed by GNCF₁ (114.8; 188 days) fed animals. However, no significant differences were observed in body weight change or number of service per conception among treatments. It was concluded that protecting of GNC protein with formaldehyde particularly at 1.0g/100g CP was beneficial in improving the reproductive performance of crossbred cows.