Is the total mixed ration the best option for feeding crossbred dairy cows using diets based on cactus cladodes on family farms?

Authors

  • Diego Amorim dos Santos Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco
  • Juana Catarina Cariri Chagas Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
  • Júlio César Vieira de Oliveira Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco
  • Djalma Cordeiro dos Santos Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco
  • Gláucia Sabrine de Oliveira Moraes Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco
  • Felipe Gusmão de Souza Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco
  • Janaina de Lima Silva Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8067-7588
  • Carolina Corrêa de Figueiredo Monteiro Universidade Estadual de Alagoas
  • Marcelo de Andrade Ferreira

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(10)124-133

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the effects on the performance of lactating cows of different strategies for supplying diets based on cactus cladodes. Eight Girolando cows at 97 ± 7.6 days into lactation, producing 12.2 ± 0.26 kg milk/day, were assigned to 4 treatments in two 4 × 4 Latin squares. The feeding strategies were: total mixed ration (TMR) based on a mixture of concentrates, cactus cladodes [Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw.] and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) fed after milking; concentrate fed during milking with cactus cladodes and sugarcane offered later (Con/CC+SC); cactus cladodes combined with concentrate fed after milking with sugarcane offered later (CC+Con/SC); and sugarcane combined with concentrate fed after milking with cactus cladodes offered later (SC+Con/CC). Intakes of neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 4.54 ± 0.09 kg/d) and total digestible nutrients (TDN; 9.30 ± 0.50 kg/d) were similar (P>0.05) for all feeding strategies and there was no effect of feeding strategy on milk yield (12.2 ± 0.26 kg/d). The different feeding strategies did not change the ingestive behavior or performance of lactating Girolando cows. Since the shortage of labor prohibits the feeding of TMRs on family farms because of labor required for preparation, these rations would be appropriate only on large farms where the costs of machines to prepare diets efficiently might be available. Cows fed concentrate during milking spent longer to consume the concentrate than the time to milk, resulting in inefficient usage of scarce labor. Appropriate feeding strategies for family farms appear to be SC+Con/CC and CC+Con/SC, i.e. partial separation of dietary ingredients, and all feeding should be done after milking.

How to Cite

dos Santos, D. A., Chagas, J. C. C., de Oliveira, J. C. V., dos Santos, D. C., Moraes, G. S. de O., de Souza, F. G., Silva, J. de L., Monteiro, C. C. de F., & Ferreira, M. de A. (2022). Is the total mixed ration the best option for feeding crossbred dairy cows using diets based on cactus cladodes on family farms?. Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales, 10(2), 124–133. https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(10)124-133

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Published

2022-05-31

Issue

Section

Research Papers