Effect of functional nutrient supplements on milk production performance and hormonal profile in crossbred (Holstein-fresian X) cows fed on finger millet straw (Eleuicine coracana) based rations Chandrasekharaiah M.*, Soren N.M., Reddy I.J., Rao S.B.N. ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Adugodi, Bengaluru- 560030, India *Correspondence: chandrasekharaiah_m@yahoo.com
Online published on 10 November, 2022. Abstract A lactation trial of four months duration was conducted to study the effect of feeding functional nutrient supplements on milk production performance and hormonal profile of crossbred cows under field condition. Twenty-eight crossbred cows were randomly divided into four comparable groups (control and experimental) of seven each based on lactation number, milk yield and stage of lactation. The cows in control group (G-I) were fed finger millet straw (FMS) with supplements such as groundnut meal (GNC) and wheat bran (WB) as practiced by the farmers. Animals in experimental groups (G-II, G-III, and G-IV) were fed finger millet straw (FMS) with GNC, wheat bran and supplements 1 (Sup I), Sup II and Sup III, respectively @ 200g/day/animal by replacing the double the quantity of GNC in the experimental groups. These supplements (Sup I, Sup II and Sup III) were prepared with 65% of locally available different bypass rich protein/amino acid supplements and 30% of the bypass fat and 5% of area specific mineral mixture. Milk yield was recorded daily. Blood was collected and separated for plasma to determine hormonal status by radio immune assay (RIA). Microbial protein synthesis was estimated by analysing urinary purine derivatives. Total DM, OM, CP and TDN intakes recorded among experimental animals were not significantly different (P>0.05%). The 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM) recorded was comparable among groups G-II, G-III, and G-IV, but higher (P<0.05) than G-I. Further, the milk composition in terms of fat, total solids and SNF showed a significant (P<0.05) improvement in experimental groups over the control group on FMS based diets. The results showed the trend of 16, 12 and 9% increase in FCM yield in animals of G-II, G-III and G-III, fed with limiting nutrient supplements Sup I, Sup II and Sup III, respectively when compared to G-I animals. Plasma hormonal profiles of growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), insulin like growth factor1 (IGF1), estradiol-17a (E2a), progesterone (P4), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine hormone (T4) were positively correlated with (r=0.69, P<0.05) milk yield in cows fed with functional nutrient supplements compared to controls. The microbial protein synthesis and nitrogen capture efficiency (NCE) was comparable among the experimental groups (G-II, G-III, and G-IV) but higher than the control group (G-I). The results indicated that, feeding of functional nutrient supplements, reduced CP intake by 8 to 12%, increased FCM yield from 9 to 16% without compromising the microbial protein synthesis, reduced feed cost by Rs 4 to 9 and increased overall income of the farmers by Rs 24 to 38/animal/day in medium yielding cows fed on FMS based diets.. Top Keywords Functional nutrient supplements, Milk yield, Hormonal profiles, Crossbred cows. Top |