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Strategic supplementation of cassava top silage to enhance rumen fermentation and milk production in lactating dairy cows in the tropics

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Abstract

High-quality protein roughage is an important feed for productive ruminants. This study examined the effects of strategic feeding of lactating cows with cassava (Manihot esculenta) top silage (CTS) on rumen fermentation, feed intake, milk yield, and quality. Four early lactating crossbred dairy cows (75% Holstein-Friesian and 25% Thai) with body weight (BW) 410 ± 30 kg and milk yield 12 ± 2 kg/day were randomly allotted in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to four different supplementation levels of CTS namely, 0, 0.75, 1.50, and 2.25 kg/day of dry matter (DM). Strategic supplementation of CTS significantly affected ruminal fermentation end-products, especially increased propionate production, decreased protozoal population and suppressed methane production (P < 0.05). Increasing the CTS supplementation level substantially enhanced milk yield and the 3.5% FCM from 12.7 to 14.0 kg/day and from 14.6 to 17.2 kg/day (P < 0.05) for non-supplemented group and for the 2.25 kg/day supplemented group, respectively. We conclude that high-quality protein roughage significantly enhances rumen fermentation end-products, milk yield, and quality in dairy cows.

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to express their most sincere thanks to Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand and the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) through the International Research Network (IRN) program (TRF-IRN 57W0002) and TRF-IRG 598001 for their kind support on research fund and facility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Metha Wanapat, Bounnaxay Viennasay, Burarat Phesatcha & Thiwakorn Ampapon

  2. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom, 48000, Thailand

    Kampanat Phesatcha

  3. National Institute of Education, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia

    Sungchhang Kang

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  1. Metha Wanapat
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  2. Kampanat Phesatcha
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Correspondence to Metha Wanapat.

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Wanapat, M., Phesatcha, K., Viennasay, B. et al. Strategic supplementation of cassava top silage to enhance rumen fermentation and milk production in lactating dairy cows in the tropics. Trop Anim Health Prod 50, 1539–1546 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1593-8

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