Effect of sorghum stover-oat silage on intake and utilization of nutrients in lactating cows

Abstract

Sixteen lactating crossbred cows were randomly divided into 2 groups of 8 animals in each. The cows of control group (T1 ) were fed on dry sorghum stover based ration along with concentrate mixture, while the cows of group T2 were offered ensiled forage (prepared by ensiling mixture of dry sorghum stover and oat) along with concentrate mixture for a period of 60 days. The results indicated that the stover-oat silage fed cows (T2 ) had a significantly (P<0.05) higher DM intake (8.91 kg/d) as compared to the stover (8.24 kg/d) fed group (T1 ). The apparent digestibility coefficient of nutrients was significantly (P< 0.05) higher for stover-oat silage (T2 ) as compared to stover-based diets (T1 ). The average daily milk yield (6.79 kg/d) was relatively higher in cows consumed stover-oat silage diet than those of stover based diet (6.24 kg/d). It was concluded that the stoveroat silage could be used as summer forage as it has a significant effect on feed intake accompanying with economic benefits in lactating cows.