Mlay P.S., Pereka A.E., Balthazary S.T., Phiri E.C.J., Hvelplund T., Weisbjerg M.R., Madsen J.
Dept. Physiol., Biochem., P., Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. Box 3017, Morogoro, Tanzania; Dept. of Anim. Sci. and Anim. Health, Roy. Vet. Agric. Univ., Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 2, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark; Dept. of Anim. Nutr. and Physiology, Danish Inst. of Agric. Sciences, Research Centre Foulum, 8830Tjele, Denmark
Mlay, P.S., Dept. Physiol., Biochem., P., Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. Box 3017, Morogoro, Tanzania; Pereka, A.E., Dept. Physiol., Biochem., P., Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. Box 3017, Morogoro, Tanzania; Balthazary, S.T., Dept. Physiol., Biochem., P., Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. Box 3017, Morogoro, Tanzania; Phiri, E.C.J., Dept. Physiol., Biochem., P., Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. Box 3017, Morogoro, Tanzania; Hvelplund, T., Dept. of Anim. Sci. and Anim. Health, Roy. Vet. Agric. Univ., Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 2, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark; Weisbjerg, M.R., Dept. of Anim. Sci. and Anim. Health, Roy. Vet. Agric. Univ., Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 2, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark; Madsen, J., Dept. of Anim. Nutr. and Physiology, Danish Inst. of Agric. Sciences, Research Centre Foulum, 8830Tjele, Denmark
A study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding milking cows a supplement of maize bran alone (MB) or maize bran mixed with sunflower meal (MBS) during the dry season. Eighteen smallholder farms in urban and peri-urban areas of Morogoro practising complete zero grazing with not less than two milking cows participated in the trial. Forty-eight cows were used with ranges of body weight 232-556 kg, previous milk yield 3-13 litres/day, body condition score 2.5-5, parity 2-5, and 3-6 months post calving. For each farm, both MBS and MB treatments were randomly distributed to the cows. Body weights and body condition scores were taken before, at 6th and 12th week of treatment. Daily milk production was recorded three weeks before, 12 weeks during and 3 weeks after the withdrawal of treatments. Milk samples were collected during the 12th week of treatment and analysed for butterfat (BF), crude protein (CP) and total solids (TS). The economic viability of the dairy enterprises in relation to supplementation was also assessed. MBS fed cows had significantly higher (P<0.001) milk yield compared to MB fed cows. No differences were observed in milk composition parameters, body weights and body condition changes. The economic return for sunflower meal incorporation in MBS was found to be very high. It is concluded that using sunflower meal mixed with maize bran was effective in increasing milk yield during the dry season and was economically profitable compared to maize bran alone.