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Effect of Feeding Urea Molasses Block on Postpartum Reproductive Performance of Crossbred Dairy Cows Under Small Holder Farm Condition

M. A. R. Chowdhury
Upazial Livestock Officer
Department of Livestock Services, Krisikhamar sarak, Famgate, Dhaka-1215

M. S. R. Siddiki
Department of Dairy Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.

M. AS. Khan
Department of Dairy Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.

M. N. Islam
Department of Dairy Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.

S. Ahmed
Department of Dairy Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The experiment was conducted to know the effect of urea molasses block (V M B) supplementation on postpartum reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows. For this purpose a total of 80 crossbred milking dairy cows were selected. Out of which 40 cows were of Local x Holstein cross and another 40 cows were of Local x Sahiwal cross and they were designated as HC and SC cows respectively. Cows of each genotype were dived into two similar groups having 20 cows in each group. In each genotype one group of cows received control diet and another group received UMB supplemented diet. The cows of control group received ad libitum straw, along with 3.0kg rood side grass and 2.75 kg concentrate/cow/day. On the other hand, cows of supplemented group received 500 g UMB per cow/day in addition to the diet given to control group. From the result it was found that feed intake in supplemented group of both genotypes increased significantly (P<0.01). Similar trend of result was seen for body condition score also. Supplementation resulted reduction of reproductive intervals viz. calving to 1^stP4 rise, 1^st estrus, conception and calving intervals by 14, 21, 54, 54 in HC and 39, 46, 81 and 80 days in SC cows respectively. SC supplemented cows had shorter reproductive intervals comparable to the HC supplemented cows. From overall analysis it could be suggested that UMB supplementation along with basal diets improve the reproductive efficiency of cows and the performance of SC cows were better than HC cows.

Keywords: Reproductive intervals, Supplementation, Urea molasses

Location: Fulbaria, Muktagacha and Mymensingh Sadar upazila of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh.

Start Date: 00-01-2000

End Date: 00-12-2002

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Ureamollases

Objectives:

To know the effect of urea molasses block (V M B) supplementation on postpartum reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows.

Methodology:

The present study was conducted from January 2000 to December 2002 in 48 smallholder dairy farms located at Fulbaria, Muktagacha and Mymensingh Sadar upazila of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh.Animals and feeds: Two genotypes of cows popularly known as Holstein cross (local zebu x Holstein) designated as HC and Sahiwal cross (local zebu x Sahiwal) designated as SC were used in this experiment. A total of 80 cows were selected of which 40 cows were HC and 40 cows were SC. From each genotype 20 cows were supplemented with UMB and 20 cows remain .as control (-UMB). The basal diet in control group consisted of ad libitum rice straw, 3.0 kg road side grass and 2.75 kg of concentrates per cow/day. On the hand, supplemented group received 500 g UMB per head /day in addition to basal diets. The animals were >2^nd lactation and average bodyweight was 286 (SE 7.56) kg. All cows were under the same management condition and reared on straw- based diet. All animals were free access to drinking water.Management of animals: Cows were hand milked twice a day and calves are allowed suckling for milk let- down during milking time. Animals were housed in stanchion barn and were used only for dairy purpose. Artificial insemination technique was practiced using liquid semen. Estrus detection was done by visual observation and the estimation of P4 level in milk. Increase of milk P4>3 nmol/L in two consecutive samples were considered an indication of initial ovarian activity. Milk P4 concentrationc<4 nml/L in milk samples for 4 weeks in the absence of observed estrus was indicative of pregnancy. Pregnancy was confirmed by rectal palpation of 60 days after last insemination.Measurements of hormone Uterine involution and ovarian activity was monitored 30 days postpartum and thereafter. Milk samples were collected for Radioimmunoassay (RIA) to estimate the progesterone (P4) concentration in milk. Milk samples were collected weekly and P4 concentrations subsequently measured by solid-phase FAO/IAEA RIA kits. Progesterone profile was use to calculate the intervals from calving to resumption of ovarian activity i.e. calving to first P4 rise, calving to first estrus and calving to conception. Luteal activity was considered to have occurred if the P4 values were consistently elevated (>3.0 nmol/L) during two consecutive weeks.

Reproductive interval: Reproductive intervals were calculated by subtracting the date of calving from the date of 1^st P4 rise, 1^stestrus and confirmation of pregnancy and subsequent calving for corresponding intervals.Record keeping: Records of daily milk yield, monthly bodyweight of cows were maintained for 6 months. It was difficult to maintained reproductive data accurately from calving to next calving from all cows, due to transfer or handover the animals of smallholder farmers. The author randomly selected 52 cows from 80 cows for reproductive data collection. Reproductive data were collected from 52 cows of 4 groups, consisting of 13 cows in each group. Date of calving date of sign of estrus, date of insemination, and result of pregnancy test and next calving date were recorded. Milk samples were collected weekly after 20 days of calving to confirm pregnancy. Calving to pregnancy interval was determined by using P4 profile. If the P4 level of milk was >4 nmol/L for two consecutive weeks and absence of estrus, it indicates pregnancy. Pregnancy was also confirmed by rectal palpation.

Source of Information: Bang. J. An. Sc. 2004, 33 (1-2): 93-100 , (ISSN 0003-3588)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Cows of each genotype were dived into two similar groups having 20 cows in each group. In each genotype one group of cows received control diet and another group received UMB supplemented diet. The cows of control group received ad libitum straw, along with 3.0kg rood side grass and 2.75 kg concentrate/cow/day. On the other hand, cows of supplemented group received 500 g UMB per cow/day in addition to the diet given to control group. From the result it was found that feed intake in supplemented group of both genotypes increased significantly (P<0.01). Similar trend of result was seen for body condition score also. Supplementation resulted reduction of reproductive intervals viz. calving to 1st P4 rise, 1st estrus, conception and calving intervals by 14, 21, 54, 54 in HC and 39, 46, 81 and 80 days in SC cows respectively. SC supplemented cows had shorter reproductive intervals comparable to the HC supplemented cows. From overall analysis it could be suggested that UMB supplementation along with basal diets improve the reproductive efficiency of cows and the performance of SC cows were better than HC cows.

Knowledge Management: Journal