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Milk production performance of Friesian-Holstein cows fed diets containing Medicago sativa, Centrosema pubescens, or groundnut haulms (Arachis hypogaea)

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Abstract

To investigate the effect of feeding dairy cows diets containing lucerne hay, centrosema hay, and groundnut haulms (crop residue) on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, and milk composition, nine multiparous Friesian-Holstein cows in their mid-lactation stage were used in a 3 × 3 crossover design replicated three times. Dairy cows fed lucerne hay had significantly (p < 0.001) higher DMI than dairy cows fed centrosema hay. DMI for cows fed groundnut haulms and lucerne hay was not significantly different. Daily milk yield for dairy cows fed diet containing lucerne hay was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that for dairy cows fed diets containing groundnut haulms or centrosema hay. Milk composition and body condition scores of the cows were not significantly affected by either lucerne hay, groundnut haulms, or centrosema hay. Overall, the results in this study indicated that feeding dairy cows diets containing lucerne hay increased milk yield.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are sincerely grateful to the Scottish Government through the Scottish's Rural College (SRUC) [formerly Scottish Agricultural College (SAC)] for funding the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, Bunda College of Agriculture, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi

    Gregory Chingala, Joshua Peter Mtimuni, Harry Msiska, Timothy Gondwe & Fanny Chimwemwe Chigwa

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  1. Gregory Chingala
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  2. Joshua Peter Mtimuni
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  3. Harry Msiska
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  4. Timothy Gondwe
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  5. Fanny Chimwemwe Chigwa
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Correspondence to Gregory Chingala.

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Chingala, G., Mtimuni, J.P., Msiska, H. et al. Milk production performance of Friesian-Holstein cows fed diets containing Medicago sativa, Centrosema pubescens, or groundnut haulms (Arachis hypogaea). Trop Anim Health Prod 45, 1485–1488 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-013-0386-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-013-0386-3

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