Intake, digestibility and feeding behaviour of grazing dairy cows supplemented with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) residue

Abstract

Context In Brazil, dairy cattle pasture-based systems use grass pasture as the main feed source, with little or no supplementation. However, it is necessary to invest in nutritional technologies that allow dairy cattle systems to produce milk with a high protein and energy content, and better total bacterial counts at low costs. Aims This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding a common bean residue (CBR) to cattle diets on feed intake, digestibility and feeding behaviour of lactating dairy cows. Methods Eight lactating Holstein × Zebu crossbred cows, with an average bodyweight of 500 ± 30 kg (mean ± s.d.) and a mean daily milk yield of 13 ± 2 kg/cow were randomly assigned in a double 4 × 4 Latin square. The treatments consisted of four increasing levels of CBR (134, 240, 348 and 449 g/kg) in the concentrate. Key results The inclusion of CBR linearly decreased (P ≤ 0.034) the DM intake and neutral detergent fibre intake of pasture, sugarcane and the total diet. The inclusion of CBR did not affect (P ≥ 0.111) grazing, rumination or idle time. The feeding efficiency in kg DM/h and kg neutral detergent fibre corrected for ash and protein/h linearly decreased (P < 0.001), with an estimated decrease of 39.1 and 23.4 g/h respectively for every 10 g/kg of CBR added to the concentrate. The number of boluses per day and the time spent per ruminated bolus were not affected (P ≥ 0.086) by CBR inclusion. Conclusions The results obtained in this study indicate that the inclusion of up to 240 g/kg of CBR to the diets of lactating dairy cows with a mean daily milk yield of 13 kg, managed on pastures, is recommended. Implications The use of CBR, which has high availability in several countries, may be an alternative to supplying small ruminants.

Characteristics of Nutrition, Growth, Carcass and Meat of Male Goats Fed Babassu Mesocarp Flour

“…The subjective evaluations, as finishing (p = 0.575) and conformation (p = 0.572), also did not change with BMF addition (Table 4). 2 , R 2 = 0.9366; 5 y = 11.357 + 0.1252x − 0.0052x 2 , R 2 = 0.9454; 6 y = 3.318 + 0.0038x, R 2 = 0.8855; 7 y =22.818 + 0.1493x, R 2 = 0.7913; 8 y = 3.014 + 0.01514x, R 2 = 0.7464; 9 y = 4.380 + 0.0448x, R 2 = 0.8892.…”

“…However, there is a greater demand for grains, which are also used in human nutrition, in formulation of diets. Because of this, studies with co-product addition to replace conventional grains in ruminant diets have increased [2][3][4]. Among many vegetable species in Brazil, babassu (Attalea speciosa) is a palm tree found between the Cerrado and the Amazon Forest, which is native to the northern and northeastern states of Brazil [5].…”

Effects of Wet Fermented Soybean Dregs on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Pellets of Corn Stover

“…The fermented soybean dregs of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, or 1.0 g were weighed and evenly added to the corn stover samples of 2 and 4 mm separately, and then blended and placed in sealed bags to obtain the mixed feed samples (the added levels of fermented soybean dregs were 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%, respectively). The levels of soybean dregs tested were based on previous reports, in which the tested inclusion level of soybean residues to ruminant diets was from 5% to 24% without negative effects on DM intake or productivity [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Thus, it can be expected that the additional mass of soybean dregs tested would not significantly affect the needs of animals fed with the soybean dregs–corn stover pellets under the better pellet forming conditions.…”

By-Product of Cotton Agribusiness as an Alternative Protein Source for Rams

“…By-products can reduce diets costs, since cottonseed cake costs about 40% that of soybean meal, to the farmer. Providing feed, with low-cost and alternative feed quality to meet animal's nutritional requirements without competing with food for human's, ensures a more sustainable production system [4][5][6][7].…”