Effect of Processed Layer Litter as a Replacement of Noug Cake on Feed Intake, Milk Yield and Composition of Lactating Cows
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Date
2010-06-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A study was conducted between September 2009 and March 2010 to assess the level of poultry
litter use in Deberzeit town and to evaluate the replacement effect of layer litter in feed intake,
milk yield and composition lactating dairy cows. Seventy five milk producers were interviewed
by using semi-structured questionnaire. They were selected randomly from membership list of
Adda' a Liben Dairy and Dairy products marketing Association.
Eight lactating animals at mid lactation stage were assigned to four treatments containing poultry
litter 0 %( control), 5%, 10% & 15% in across over design. Significant proportions (60%) of
dairy producers were found to use poultry litter as an ingredient for dairy cattle feed with mean
inclusion rate of 21 % in a concentrate mixture. The price of poultry litter whether it is processed
(162 birr per quintal) or unprocessed (84 birr per quintal) was lower than the price of Noug cake
(240 birr per quintal) during the study period.
Bad flavor and bad taste of milk were the main reasons for those who stopped using poultry litter
as feed ingredient. Higher proportion of respondents did not have any complain regarding the
health of dairy animals due to feeding poultry litter. No significant difference (p>0.05) was
observed in total dry matter intake among the four treatments. There were no significant
difference observed in milk yield & composition among the four dietary treatments. However,
there were significant differences among treatments when observed across periods in feed intake,
milk yield and composition. It can, therefore, concluded that poultry litter can be good
replacement for resource poor producers
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Keywords
cross-over, milk composition, milk yield, poultry litter