Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
Jagjiwan Ram, Sreedhara JN and Prahlad

Abstract:
The present study was conducted at Dairy unit, Main Agricultural Research Station, UAS, Raichur, Karnataka state. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of cotton seed cake (CSC) on milk yield, milk fat and SNF, feed intake, body condition score and live weight of Holestein Friesian x Deoni crossbred cows. Twenty HF Deoni crossbred lactating cows were selected for this study based on similar age group ranged from 5 to 5.5 year and most of the animals were in stage of mid-lactation and were given feed prepared as per NRC, 2015 standards. The cows were grouped under four treatments viz. T₁ (0% cotton seed cake), T₂ (10% cotton seed cake), T₃ (20% cotton seed cake) and T₄ (30% cotton seed cake). The results revealed that dry matter intake, water intake and digestibility of nutrients were non-significant between the treatments. There was a linear increase in the digestibility of nutrients viz. DM, CP, CF, EE and NFE with increasing CSC level in the ration. The percentage of milk fat and total milk solid were significantly increased in T₃ (17.65% & 7.84%) and T₄ (21.18% & 9.41%) as against T1 at t05, however milk yield was significantly increased in T₁ compared to T₃ and T₄. The results of the experiment indicate that the optimum level of CSC inclusion in the diet of dairy rations is 20% for optimum milk yield and milk composition.