The Nutritive Values of Formulated and Commercial Diets for Enhanced Dairy Production
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Keywords
Formulated diet, nutritive value, dairy, commercial diets, seed processing wastes
Abstract
In the dairy industry, the productivity and health of dairy cows are significantly influenced by their nutrition. Proper diet formulation is essential for ensuring that cows receive the necessary nutrients to maintain optimal health, produce high-quality milk and achieve sustainable milk yields. Farmers in Kenya encounter various challenges in dairy production due to limited access to high-quality feed ingredients and fluctuating feed prices which poses significant barriers to maximizing dairy herd productivity. Therefore, this study assesses nutritive values of both formulated and commercial diets in order to enhance dairy production. The study was carried out at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Centre, Kitale in Trans Nzoia County. The different commercial diets W, X and Z were sourced from their company respectively in two batches at an interval of two weeks. Ration (Y) was formulated using the Seed processing wastes and other crop by-products from other companies. The ingredients were; Male maize lines of corn, Molasses, Milling Maize chaff, Cotton seed cake, Limestone and Dairy premix. The basal diet of Napier grass coded (C), which only served as the control treatment. The samples were analysed for the following contents; Dry Matter, Crude protein, Neutral Detergent Fiber, Acid Detergent Fiber, Ash and Energy using proximate analysis. The data was subjected to descriptive analysis and inferential statistics. The analysis results showed Diet Z had the highest mineral content of 19.18 % while Diet C (control) had the least mineral content of 0.4%. Diet W, X and Y had a mineral content of 10.54, 9.99 and 6.83% respectively. However, Diet Y had the highest CP of 17.82%, while diet C (control) had the lowest CP of 5.4%. The study demonstrated significant differences in the nutritive values of formulated and commercial diets, highlighting the impact of diet formulation on dairy cow productivity and health. It is recommended that dairy farmers prioritize the use of scientifically formulated diets to enhance milk yield and ensure optimal health of the cows.
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Monica Yator , Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Biosystems, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya
Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Biosystems, University of Eldoret, Kenya
Harold A. Rachuonyo, Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Biosystems, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya
Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Biosystems, University of Eldoret, Kenya