Increased Milk Yield in Borgou Cows in Alternative Feeding Systems

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess changes in milk yield (MY), daily weight gain (DWG), dry matter intake capacity (DMI), feed intake (FI) and energy intake (ME) of Borgou cattle in separate feeding systems. Performance records of 48 lactating cows, raised at Okpara State farm, were analyzed. The cows were distributed in three treatment groups, corresponding to three feeding systems: grazing on natural pasture (FSI); grazing on natural pasture plus supplementation with 2 kg cottonseed cakes (FSII); and rationing with 20 kg Panicum maximum C1, 2 kg Brachiaria ruziziensis, 1 kg Aeschynomene histrix and 2 kg cottonseed cakes (FSIII). Mean estimates were 392.0 ± 28.7 g/d, 1.77 ± 0.84 L/d, 7.88 ± 0.39 kg DM, 118.16 ± 8.59 g DM/kg^0.75 and 71.62 ± 4.47 Mj for DWG, MY, DMI, FI and ME, respectively. Analyses of variance revealed the significance of non-genetic factors such as feeding system, age at calving, season of calving, stage of lactation, parity number, and feeding system by calving season interaction (p < 0.05) on DWG and MY. The greatest impact on DWG and MY was obtained in FSII with 664.7 ± 30.9 g/d and 2.00 ± 0.95 L/d, respectively, followed by FSIII with 318.9 ± 24.9 g/d and 1.90 ± 0.93 L/d.