Milk Yield, Feed Intake and Weight Gain of Cross Bred Lactating Dairy Cattle Fed Concentrate Ration with Varying Levels of Molasses

†K. Anwar, †H. Din, †Hamidullah, *Munibullah and ‡T. Akhtar

†Veterinary Research Institute, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan,
*Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, ‡Department of Physiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the inclusion level of molasses in the concentrate feed for cross bred lactating dairy cattle. Nine crossbred cows of second and third lactation were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments: control (no molasses), 10% and 20% molasses. Total duration of experiment was seven weeks. Mean daily milk yield was higher in the cows fed 20% molasses feed (p<0.05) compared to the control and 10% treatment animals. Highest milk yield 8.71 kg/day was recorded for cows fed 20% Molasses; whereas, the control group (0% molasses) produced the least yield 6.22 kg/day. Similarly, daily feed intake was higher (p<0.05) in the cows fed 20% molasses than those fed no and 10% molasses in their diets. Highest daily feed intake 80.4 kg reported in the 20% molasses treatment than the control group with lowest intake of 71.1 kg/day. The live body weight gain was not affected by dietary treatment (p>0.05). Economically ration having 20% Molasses had the lowest cost of milk production (Rs: 15.8 /kg) as compared to ration having 10% (Rs.19.01/kg) and control (Rs.22.07/kg). It is concluded that inclusion of molasses in the concentrate feed up to 20% in the concentrate feed improved milk yield and feed intake and lowered the cost of feeding in the cross bred lactating dairy cattle.
Key words: Molasses, Milk Yield, Feed intake, Live Weight and Crossbred Cattle.