Efficiency of Milk Production of Crossbred Cows at High Altitude Under Various Levels of Concentrate Feeding

A study "as carried out on crossbred cows (Holstein-Friesian × Sahiwal) stationed at Leh, Ladakh (3372 meters above sea level) to estimate nutrient requirements for economic milk production. The ME requirement for maintenance was 173 kcal/kg W^0.75 and that for milk production 1103 kcaL/kg 4 percent FCM. The partial efficiency of utilisation of ME for milk production was 67.98 percent. The DCP requirement for maintenance vtas 3.85 g/kg W^0.75 and 124 g for 100 g of milk protein. The efficiency of nitrogen secretion in milk was 80.65 percent. Under the climatic conditions of Leh the animals showed higher maintenance requirements of ME and DCP but for milk production there nas no additional demand for these nutrients. The feeding of concentrate mixture at the rate of 1 kg/3.5kg milk animal/day was adequate for optimum milk production.