Department of Feed & Fodder Technology, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500 030, India
Online published on 20 January, 2012.
The effect on quality and quantity of milk production and nutrient digestibility was studied in two equal groups of twelve Ongole X Holstein Friesian cows (3-6yrs, 1-3 lactations) on feeding sunflower straw based complete ration processed into mash and a conventional ration containing concentrate mixture and mixed grass hay fed ad lib using a completely randomised design. The voluntary feed intake was comparable on both the rations. But conventional ration showed higher (P < 0.01) digestibilities of all the nutrients except EE than the sunflower based complete ration. Water intake per kg DM intake was 18.9 per cent higher on complete feed as compared to that on conventional ration. Although the conventional ration had higher (P < 0.05) TDN content than the complete feed, both the rationsjmet the nutrient requirements. Production of FCM fat, SNE were higher by 39.0,10.6 and 2.6 per cent on sunflower straw based complete feed than the conventional ration. In contrast to this, DM intake per kg FCM and cost of feed per kg FCM was lower by 26.8 and 27.9 per cent on complete feed as compared to conventional ration, The results suggested that sunflower straw can be used as a sole source of roughage in complete feeds for crossbred milch cows.
