Liveweight Gain and Efficiency of Feed Utilization by Bunaji Cows during Early Lactation

Abstract

Afeeding trial was carried ou t to study the effect offeeding increasing levels of total digestible nutrients (TDN) on
the livmight of Bunaji cows during early lactation. Thefeeding trial ranfor 56 days, starting on the 61h day afler
parturition. The experimental cows, in a completely randomized design, were randomly allocated to four diets at
3.5,4.5,5.5 and 6.5-kg TDN levels. These diets were compounded using cottonseed cake, dried brewer'sgrains and
Lablab purpureus hay. The dailyfeed intake; daily milk yeld and two weekly livezueight changes in the cows were
recorded. The mean daily dry matter and crude protein consumed per metabolic size increased signijicantly (P<
0.05) as the dietary TDN increasedffom 3.5 to 6.5 kg. The values were 82.4,106.6,118.2 and 131.2 g kg-' W.75
day -I for dry matter intake and 22.5,29.0,33.1 and 38.0 g kg-' day -'for crude protein intake for the diets at
the 3.5,4.5,5.5 and 6.5 kg TDN levels respectively. The daily milk yield rangedfrom 1.83 to 3.83 kg, while the
liveweight gain rangedfrom 598.2 to 946.4 g day -I. The experimental diets w e better utilized for liveweight
gain at the 3.5,4.5 and 6.5 kg TDNlevels, with the mean eficien y offeed utilization ratios of 7.1: 1,9.3: 1 and 9.9:
1 respectively. The least eficien y offeed utilization ratio of 13.5: 1 was obtained at the 5.5 kg TDN level.