Effect of feeding green maize along with soyabean straw over nutrient digestibility and milk yield of the crossbred lactating cows

Abstract

The study was conducted to observe the effect of green maize along with soyabean straw over digestibility of nutrients and the performance of crossbred lactating cows. Sixteen lactating crossbred cows were divided into four groups on the basis of their body wt., milk yield, stage of lactation and parity. The study was conducted for the period of five months including 7 days metabolic trial. Group 1: Wheat straw (WS) + Green maize (GM) + Concentrate mixture (CM) (Control); Group 2: Soybean straw (SS) and WS (20:80) + GM + CM; Group 3: SS and WS (40:60) + GM + CM); Group 4: SS and WS (60:40) + GM + CM. Average dry matter intake were 10.83, 10.23, 9.73 and 9.43 kg in T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups, respectively. While, average milk yield was 7.89±0.29, 6.89±0.30, 6.84±0.38 and 6.27±0.34 kg in T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups, respectively. The average intake of digested dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber and nitrogen free extract in animals of T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups, respectively, were 7.04, 6.34, 5.94 and 5.66 kg; 0.90, 0.86, 0.81 and 0.80 kg; 0.35, 0.31, 0.29 and 0.28 kg; 1.66, 1.58, 1.49 and 1.48 kg; 3.52, 3.13, 2.86 and 2.70 kg.