Evaluation of nutritive value of feeds and feed ration ingredients from different interventions used by dairy farms in Kenya

Abstract

Dairy cows’ production potential in Kenya is affected by inadequate supply of quality feeds. Chemical analysis and in-vitro degradability of feed ingredients from twelve farms using each of the three interventions: maize train and bale silage, silagefrom Service Provider Enterprises (SPEs), and feed ingredients from farms using ration formulation (Rumen8) software were compared with 12 control farms for each intervention. Data from the experiments was subjected to analysis of variance using the General linear model. Mean separation was done using least significant difference at 5% level of significance. Dry matter content of maize train silage (34.4%) and baled silage (34.9%) differed from SPEs silages (32.3%)(p