Seasonal Feeding Practice Impact on Lactating Cow Performances Kept in Bogor Lowland Small Enterprise Dairy Farming

Abstract

Impact of seasonal feeding practice on lactating cow performance under small enterprise located in dairy cattle estate area (KUNAK) Cibungbulang, Bogor Regency have been studied to improve feed utilization efficiency. Nineteen farmers of KPS Bogor cooperative members have been interviewed and 131 lactating cows have been observed in two periods to represent drought and rainy seasons. Type and amount of feeds offered have been recorded, weighted and sampled. Feed compositions of each feed type have been analyzed to get proximate composition, mineral, fermentability, digestibility, metabolisable and net energy for lactation information. The cow body weight and score have been measured. Milk production and qualities have been recorded and scanned. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the main and range values of each parameter and one way ANOVA was used to compare the effect of seasons. The results showed small enterprise dairy farmer in KUNAK Cibungbulang vary extremely in feeding practice (type of feeds, feeding strategy) but did not influence by season. There is no significant effect of seasonal feeding practice on dairy cow performances have been observed. The farmer feeding strategy in coping with seasonal feed availability will be discussed.