Authors : Ibrahim Traore Alkoiret, Guenole C. Akouedegni, Youssouf Toukourou, Roel H. Bosma and Guy Appolinaire Mensah
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of dry season protein supplementation of Borgou cows on feed intake, milk production, body weight and calves growth performance. Animals (24 cows) were all given a basal diet of straw bush ad libitum. Cows of 1st group (8 cows in each group) were complemented with a concentrate CC (50% dried brewer’s grains, 30% cassava chips, 15% dried cassava leaves, 2.5% dicalcium phosphate, 1.5% sodium chloride and 1% premix). Those of 2nd and 3rd groups received, respectively the concentrates CSC and SBM with the same composition as CC except that 20% of cassava chips were replaced by cottonseed cake in CSC and soybean meal in SBM. Protein supplementation had a significant effect (p<0.05) on straw bush voluntary ingestion (6.0 vs. 8.6 vs. 8.7 kg DM day-1), daily milk yield (2.8 vs. 4.1 vs. 4.2 kg), cows weight gain (13 vs. 49 vs. 51 g day-1), calves weight gain (131 vs. 170 vs. 179 g day-1) and cost of feed per kg of milk (101 vs. 86 vs. 99 XOF). By cons, milk chemical composition was not affected (p>0.05).
Ibrahim Traore Alkoiret, Guenole C. Akouedegni, Youssouf Toukourou, Roel H. Bosma and Guy Appolinaire Mensah, 2011. Effects of Protein Supplementation During the Dry Season on Feed Intake and Performance of Borgou Cows in Benin Republic. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10: 2879-2884.