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Study of On-farm Pre and Post-natal Feeding Practices of Red Chittagong Cattle

NG Das
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka - 1341

NR Sarker
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka - 1341

KS Huque
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka - 1341

MAI Talukdar
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka - 1341

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted with the objective to investigate prenatal and postnatal performances of Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) cows in subsistence feeding and nutrition compared to those in improved feeding system. Twenty RCC cows with average initial live weight of 204.6 (±29) kg at their 2nd or 3rd parity and at about seven months of pregnancy were divided into two equal groups and assigned to two dietary treatments: one group was fed as per farmers’ choice, while another was fed 25% higher metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) than requirements through concentrates, according to ARC (2009). Cows in farmers’ diet during last 50 days of pregnancy fed lower ME and CP (42.4 MJ and 445 g, respectively) than their daily requirements (43.5 MJ and 519 g, respectively), resulted in lower birth weight of calves compared to improved feeding (13.36 and 15.12 kg, respectively) where daily ME and CP intake was 57.77 MJ and 603 g. In first 60 days of lactation, cows under farmers’ diet fed required amount of ME and CP (44.83 MJ and 471g, respectively) compared to requirement (42 MJ and 388g, respectively). However, cows in improved diet fed 1.28 and 1.42 times higher ME and CP (52.92 MJ and 563 g) than requirements, and produced higher milk (1.97 and 2.50 L/d; P<0.05) and daily gain (122 and 274 g/d; P<0.01), compared to that of farmers’ diet cows. Therefore, it was concluded that diet of RCC cows in late pregnancy may be supplemented with CP in order to produce higher birth weight of calves. In case of lactating cows, a cost effective supplementation of concentrate mixture for increasing milk production and daily gain may be investigated by doing further research.

Keywords: Red Chittagong Cattle, Nutrient requirement, Daily gain, Milk production, On-farm feeding

Location: Satkania upazila of Chattogram district

Start Date: 00-03-2013

End Date: 00-08-2013

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Feed, Cattle

Objectives:

To investigate prenatal and postnatal performances of RCC cows in subsistence feeding and nutrition compared to those in improved feeding.

Methodology:

Twenty RCC cows of 7 months pregnancy within 2 or 3 parities were selected at Latabania, Dolir Gopat, Fokirkhil and Notunhat villages under Satkania upazila of Chattogram district, and randomly assigned into two dietary groups, starting from March 15 to August 15, 2013. One group (T₁) was fed according to farmers’ choice, while another group (T₂) received 25% above the requirements of metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) according to ARC (2009), which was maintained through supplementing improved concentrate mixtures. Daily supply of roughages and their refusals were weighed and recorded. In farmers’ choice group, quantitative daily supply of different concentrate ingredients was recorded. In improved feeding group, calculating nutrient deficiency of diet, a mixture of conventional concentrate ingredients was produced and its daily allowance was calculated so that intake of ME and CP was maintained at 25% above the actual requirements according to ARC (2009). This mixture of concentrate ingredients and daily allowances was updated fortnightly according to live weight (LW) of cows and requirements. During lactation, in addition to maintenance requirement, nutrient requirements for producing 3L milk daily were considered in formulating concentrate mixtures. A portable digital balance was used to take live weight of cows fortnightly. Nutrient intake of cows from roughage was calculated by subtracting refusal nutrients from fresh roughage nutrients supplied. Nutrient intake from concentrate was calculated by multiplying the amount consumed and their chemical composition; no refusals were found in case of concentrates. The chemical composition of conventional feedstuffs (roughage and concentrate) and average ingredient composition of concentrate mixtures of both farmers’ choice diet and improved diet are presented respectively. Fresh and representative samples of feedstuffs used by different farmers were collected, kept in properly labeled airtight polyethine bags, and stored in deep freeze (-20°C) until analysis. At the same time, representative samples of concentrate ingredients used according to either farmers’ choice or improved feeding were sampled, collected in airtight polyethine bags and stored in deep freeze (-20°C) until analysis. At the end of trial, samples of different feedstuffs were thawed at room temperature, pooled, mixed thoroughly and representative samples were produced. A portion of that was used to determine dry matter content by drying in an oven at 60°C for 48 h, while another portion was dried, milled by passing through 1 mm sieve of Willey mill and sent to laboratory for determining chemical composition at Animal Nutrition Laboratory of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka, following the method of AOAC (2003). Data on LW gain of cows, birth weight of calves; milk yield and post-partum days were recorded and analyzed for Paired-Samples T Test to compare means using SPSS (11.5).

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. of Livestock Res. 21-25: 159-167, 2018

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/bjlr.v0i0.45459

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

This study reveals that RCC cows at study areas received sufficient metabolizable energy (ME) during last 50 days of pregnancy and first 60 days of lactation (0.98 and 1.06 times of requirement). Crude protein (CP) intake during these pregnant days were 0.86 parts of requirement which resulted in lower birth weight of calves (13.36 kg), compared to calves from cows fed 1.33 and 1.17 times higher ME and CP than requirements (15.12 kg). Higher milk production along with higher live weight gain (from 1.97 to 2.50 L/d; 122 to 274 g/d, respectively) attributed to feeding cows with 1.28 and 1.42 times higher ME and CP than requirement in first two months of lactation. Therefore, it may be concluded that RCC cows in late pregnancy may be supplemented with concentrates rich in CP in order to produce higher birth weight of calves. In case of lactating cows, although ME and CP from farmers’ diet is sufficient, a cost effective supplementation of concentrate for increasing milk production may be investigated by doing further research. Overall, a year round study on on-farm feeds and fodder availability, and nutrition of RCC cows with more replications in its habitats is required in order to maximize their prenatal and postnatal performances through improved nutrition.

Knowledge Management: Journal