Dairy Cattle Nutrient Sufficiency Kept under Traditional Farming Practice During Rainy and Drought Seasons

Abstract

A study of seasonal effect on nutrient sufficiency and its impact on lactating cow performances kept by traditional farmers, members of KPSBU cooperative-Lembang was intensified on the data and sample collected in two periods (October – November 2012 for drought season and February 2013 for rainy reason). Pairing data from seventy seven lactating cows were included in the development model. The amounts of feed offered were weighed and their nutrient contents analyzed to get proximate compositions (Dry matter, ash, crude protein, lipid and crude fiber), Ca and P contents, in vitro fermentability and digestibility. Total digestible nutrients (TDN), metabolisable energy (ME) and net energy for lactation (NEl) were calculated. The cow performances (body weight, body conditions score, milk production) were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the main and range values of each parameter. One way ANOVA was used to compare the effect of seasons. Correlations between parameters were made prior to regression analysis. The results showed that no effect of the seasons was identified on the cow performances and feeding practice coefficients except for “days in milk” (DIM), milk fat content, NEL and forage to concentrate ratio which were higher in drought season than rainy season. Although the farmers got difficulties in collecting forage during drought seasons, but forage proportion in the rations were higher than in rainy season due to higher forage DM contents which contributed to higher NEL and resulted in higher milk fat content. Only milk protein content had a correlation to the amount of feed and nutrient offered. Other performances parameters needed details feed utilizations parameters such as fermentabilities, digestibilities, ME and NEL although their estimate models were still unconvincing.