Supplementation of Cassava Hay to Replace Concentrate Use in Lactating Holstein Friesian Crossbreds

Wanapat, M.; Petlum, A.; Pimpa, O.

doi:2000.13.5.600

Article

Ruminant Nutrition and Forage Utilization

Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 2000;13(5): 600-604.
https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2000.600 Published online May 1, 2000.

Supplementation of Cassava Hay to Replace Concentrate Use in Lactating Holstein Friesian Crossbreds

M. Wanapat, A. Petlum, O. Pimpa

Abstract

Exp. I, the study was conducted to examine the supplementation levels of cassava hay (CH) in dairy cows. Six multiparous Holstein-Friesian crossbreds were paired and randomly assigned in a change-over design to receive three levels of CH supplement at 0, 0.8 and 1.7 kg DM/hd/d. Concentrate was supplemented at the same level (1:2; concentrate:milk yield) while urea-treated (5%) rice straw was offered on ad libitum basis. The results revealed that supplementation of CH could significantly reduce concentrate use resulting in similar milk yield (12.5, 12.12 and 12.6 kg/hd/d) and significantly enhanced 3.5% FCM (14.21, 15.70, 14.9 kg/d, respectively). Moreover, CH supplementation significantly increased milk fat and milk protein percentages especially at 1.70 kg/hd/d. Concentrate use could be significantly reduced by 27% at 1.7 kg/hd/d CH supplementation. Exp. II, supplementation of cassava hay to replace concentrate use was studied in lactating-Holstein Friesian crossbreds grazed on Ruzi grass. Six multiparous cows in mid-lactating periods were paired and randomly assiged according to a change-over-design to receive three dietary treatments, T1=0 kg cassava hay (CH) in 1:2 concentrate supplementation (CS) to milk yield (MY), T2=1.0 kg DM CH/hd/d in 1:3 CS to MY, T3=1.7 kg DM CH/hd/d in 1:4 CS to MY, respectively. The results were found that milk yield were similar among treatments while protein, lactose and solids-not-fat percentages were highest (p<0.05) in cows receiving CH at 1.0 kg/hd/d. Most significant improvement from CH supplementation was the abillty to reduce concentrate use by 42% which could provide a higher income for small-holder dairy farmers. In addition, milk thiocyanate was enhanced from 5.3 to 17.8 ppm (p<0.05) in the control and in the CH supplemented group (1.7 kg/hd/d), respectively. Moreover, CH supplementation could significantly reduce concentrate level for diary feeding thus resulted in more economical return. Cassava hay demonstrated as a potential and high-quality on-farm feed resource especially for dry season feeding in the tropics.

Keywords: Cassava Hay; Dairy Cattle; Milk Yield and Quality; Concentrate; Tannin-Protein; Milk Thiocyanate, Tropics