Diet supplement effect based on cottonseed meal and <i>Vitellaria paradoxa</i> leaves on Borgou cows performance in rainy season

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of supplementing lactating cows with cottonseed meal and Vitellaria paradoxa leaves in the rainy season on milk yield and content, cows daily weight gain and profitability. The experimental design was 3 × 3 Latin square with 5 repetitions. Fifteen Borgou cows were offered three diets: grazing on natural pasture, grazing on pasture plus 1.5 kg of cottonseed meal supplement and grazing on natural pasture plus 500 g of Vitellaria paradoxa leaves. Daily milk yield was 946.58 g, 1690.07 g and 1176.89 g for the control, cottonseed meal and Vitellaria paradoxa leaves group respectively. Cows supplemented with cottonseed meal produce significantly (p < 0.05) more milk than the others. The mean values were 15.12%, 0.35%, 5.92% and 4.13% respectively for total solid, ash, fat and protein content. Vitellaria paradoxa leaves significantly (p < 0.05) increase total solid level and ash as well as ash with cottonseed meal. Furthermore, calves daily weight gain (DWG) was significantly different. A net return analysis shows that cottonseed meal and Vitellaria paradoxa leaves supplementation in rainy season was profitable even if Vitellaria paradoxa leaves were more beneficial.

Comparative analysis of the antioxidant capacity of milk from different breeds of cow in Nigeria

“…Foreign breeds such as Holstein Friesian (HF), Brown Swiss and Jersey make up only about 1% of the total cattle population (CSIRO, 2020). Although, Toko et al, (2011) reported that indigenous cows have low milk but are bred and considered a major source of milk, because WF, RB, and SG, are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd highest cattle populations in Nigeria, respectively (Kubkomawa, 2017).…”