Lactation Performance, Profitability and Mastitis Susceptibility of Holstein Friesian Cows Fed Rumen Protected Methionine in Kenya
Loading...
Date
2023
Authors
Owaga, John Owino
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
kenyatta university
Abstract
The purpose of the research was to determine how rumen-protected methionine (Mepron®) affects milk output, cost efficiency, and mastitis resistance in dairy cows in Kenya. This research also aimed to address the issue of high cost of dairy concentrate feeds that emerges from formulating diets based on crude protein. Majority of diets intended for high-yielding dairy cows, are designed with crude protein of 17 to 18%. To achieve this high crude protein level, additional protein sources are required, resulting in more costly dairy feed. This study was carried out in a commercial dairy farm (Risa Farm) located in Ngecha ward, Limuru sub-county, Kiambu County, Kenya. Twelve Holstein Friesian dairy cows in their transition period (<100 in milk) usually when methionine need is highest, were recruited for this study. The cows chosen ranged in parity from the first to the fourth. Four replicates of each of the three treatments (T1, T2, and T3) were used in a completely randomized design (CRD). The treatment diets comprised dairy meal adjusted for amino acids using Mepron® (T1), commercial dairy meal prepared using crude protein (T2) and farm dairy meal developed using crude protein (T3). Near Infra-Red Reflectance (NIR) technique was used to determine the proximate and amino acid content of the ingredients used to create the treatment diets. AMINOCow software was used to design the rations and feed optimizer (Brill) was used to optimize the treatment rations. Milk production for each cow was recorded every day at 10 am, 5 pm, and 2 am. California mastitis test (CMT) was done on each cow every two days throughout the experimental period. Data was collected for 7 weeks, after one week of acclimatization of the cows to the treatment rations and procedures. The gathered data was submitted to analysis of variance, where means with p< 0.05 were considered significant and Student Newman Keuls (SNK) test used to distinguish the significant means. R software for Windows (Version 4.0.2) was used to run all statistical analyses. In the cow group given treatment T1 (dairy meal balanced for methionine using Mepron®), the findings revealed a numerical increase of milk output of 1.2 liters per day during the course of the trial. Throughout the course of the trial, the milk output of the cows given treatments T2 and T3 decreased by 2.62 and 1.60 liters per day, respectively. In T1, the total performance exhibited an upward trend, which was statistically significant (p = 0.004). Methionine levels in the treatment meals and cow milk output were shown to be positively correlated. Mastitis incidence was significant across the groups. Mepron® group (T1), followed by T3 (Farm dairy meal), and T2 had considerably greater score 0 (-ve Mastitis) and 1 (+ve mastitis in one quarter, respectively) (Commercial dairy meal). A score of 3 and 4 were not found in the Mepron® group (T1), which emphasizes the association between methionine adequacy and the prevalence of mastitis. Dairy ration balancing using Mepron (T1) permitted feed cost decrease of 19.44% compared to T3 and 0.04% compared to T2 rations. This research shows that using rumen protected such as Mepron®) to balance dairy rations lead to increased milk output, decreased mastitis occurrences, and is cost-effective.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Animal Nutrition and Management in the School Of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Of Kenyatta University
Keywords
Lactation Performance, Mastitis Susceptibility, Holstein Friesian Cows, Kenya