Volume 23 (5):458-465, 2019
Effect of urea
molasses lick and azolla supplements on feed intake
and milk production in Holstein cows.
Anahita Akbarizonoz
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of
Agriculture, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
ABSTRACT
Akbarizonoz A., Effect of urea molasses lick and azolla
supplements on feed intake and milk production in Holstein cows, Onl J Vet Res., 23
(5):458-465, 2019. Two groups of 5
lactating Holstein dairy cows each were supplemented 90 days during winter with
~300g/head/day urea molasses-mineral-brick with crude protein (CP) 31.7% or
1.5kg Azolla with CP of 21.4% both with standard diet
of wheat straw ad libitum with CP
18.7% and concentrate mixture with CP of 4.4%. Five control cows were fed only
standard diet. In cows given urea-molasses, dry matter intake
(12.40/kg/cow/day) was ~5-9% and total digestible nutrient intake ~5-7% higher
(P < 0.05) compared with controls or with those given Azolla.
Similar results were found with crude protein. Daily milk production (litre/cow) was also ~5% higher (P<0.05) (7.54L/day) in
cows supplemented urea-molasses compared to controls (7.27L/day) or given Azolla (7.13L/day).
Cows given urea molasses spent about 8% (P < 0.05) more time resting
over 24h feeding periods compared with controls. We find that urea-molasses
supplement improved digestibility and milk production in Holstein cows probably
due to increased palatability of poor quality roughage during winter.
Key Words: Nutrients, Feed
Supplements, Milk production, Holstein Cows.
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