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Ruminant Nutrition and Forage Utilization
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 2000;13(6): 774-780.
https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2000.774    Published online June 1, 2000.
Effect of Medicated Block Licks on the Performance of Indigenous Dairy Cows of Bangladesh
K. Rafiq, M. Mostofa, M. A. Awal, M. M. Hossain
Abstract
For this study three types of block such as medicated urea-molasses-mineral block (MUMMB, 7% urea), urea-molasses-mineral blocks (UMMBa, 7% urea) and urea-molasses-mineral blocks (UMMBb, 21% urea) were prepared. Naturally infested 24 indigenous dairy cows with gastrointestinal nematodes were used to study the effect of MUMMB, UMMBa and UMMBb on different parameters (body weight, milk yield, serum urea level, milk urea level). The cows were offered normal diet added with 250 g block per cow for every day. Straw and green grasses were used as basal diet in the ration. The managemental facilities for all cows of each group were similar. Cows were stall fed, calves were tied up at night and had free access to their dam during day time. Milking was done once daily in the morning. The daily average live weight gains by MUMMB, UMMBa UMMBb, and control group (no block) were 52.08 g, 44.44 g, 48.58 g, and 1.41 g respectively. The live weight gain were statistically significant (p<0.01) in comparison to control group. The highest daily milk yield was observed in MUMMB treated cows (2.39 L/d); followed by UMMBb treated cows (1.82 L/d) and UMMBa treated cows (2.16 L/d). The lowest milk yield was found in control group (1.54 L/d). This result differs significantly (p<0.05) between treated groups and also with control group. During urea-molasses-mineral blocks UMMBa, UMMBb licking milk urea level increased from initial 22.76 2.35 mg/dl to 35.46 4.80 mg/dl and initial 22.86 2.96 mg/dl to 40.66 0.87 mg/dl respectively. This variation of milk urea level was statistically significant (p<0.001). Similarly during UMMBa and UMMBb blocks licking, serum urea level increased in both treated groups from initial 22.70 2.60 mg/dl to 32.68 2.21 mg/dl and initial 23.70 2.78 mg/dl to 40.48 3.24 mg/dl, respectively. This variation of serum urea level was also statistically significant (p<0.001). Use of MUMMB instead of UMMB was proved better for milk production and live weight gain in dairy cows under the village condition of Bangladesh where balanced ration for dairy cows are a major scarcity. And various concentration of urea in blocks positively affect milk and serum urea levels of indigenous dairy cows.
Keywords: Medicated Block Lick; UMMB; GI Nematodiasis; Milk Yield; Live Weight; Urea Levels


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