Effects of Supplementing Borana Dairy Cows with Local (Vachelliatortilis pods) and Conventional Feeds on Milk Yield and Milk Composition

An experiment was conducted at Yabello Pastoral and Dryland Agricultural Research Center in Oromia National Regional State to evaluate the effects of local and conventional feed supplementation on milk yield and milk composition of Borana cows. Twelve lactating Borana cows of first parity and second parity with a similar stage of lactation were used. The experiment had four treatments with three replications using a randomized complete block design. Treatments included noug seed cake (NSK)+ wheat bran + free grazing (T1), Vachelliatortilis pods + wheat bran + free grazing (T2), Vachelliatortilis pods + free grazing(T3), and the control (free grazing) (T4). There were significant differences (P<0.05) in milk yield between cows fed in control and supplemented as well as within supplemented groups. Higher (P<0.001) significant interaction of parity with the treatment of milk yield was also observed. Significantly (P<0.001) higher (3.10 kg/cow/day) and lower (1.95 kg/cow/day) milk yield was obtained from cows fed T2 and T4, respectively. Except for solid not fat and lactose content all analyzed milk compositions were significantly different (P<0.05) among treatment groups. Higher fat (7.69%), protein (3.59%) and total solids (15.98%) and lower ash (0.73%) were recorded from cows fed T1, T2, T4, and T3, respectively. The treatment diets increased the net profit/cow/day by Ethiopian Birr (ETB) 16.35 (T1), 31.57 (T2), and 13.67 (T3) over the control (T4). In conclusion, supplementation of Vachelliatortilis pods with different feed to Borana cows on natural pasture improved milk yield, milk composition as well as net profit. Therefore, using Vachelliatortilis pods with different feeds as supplementation for lactating cows can be recommended for milk production in the pastoral and agro- pastoral areas