The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the manner in which diet is supplied and spineless cactus forage is processed on intake, nutrient digestibility, milk production and composition, concentration of plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) in the milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and production of microbial protein in Holstein cows in lactation. Eight cows (453 ± 75.8 kg) yielding 14 kg milk/day were allotted to a factorial design, with two manners of cactus processing (knife-chopped or forage machine) […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of fat sources in rations for lactating cows on the productive performance and composition of milk protein fraction. Twelve Holstein cows were used, grouped in three balanced 4 × 4 Latin squares, fed with the following rations: control; refined soybean oil; whole raw soybean; and calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acid (Megalac-E). Dry matter and nutrient intake, and daily milk production were evaluated. The samples used to analyze milk composition […]

Thirty mid lactating Holstein cows (159 DIM) were used to evaluate the substitution of ground corn with gluten feed (FGM-21) in total mixed diets containing corn silage as the main forage and citrus pulp as part of the energy source. Treatments were: no FGM-21 and 20% ground corn in total feed DM (FGM 0), 10% FGM-21 and 10% ground corn in total feed DM (FGM 10), and no corn and 20% FGM-21 in total feed DM (FGM 20). The parameters […]

Two levels of concentrate (20 and 40% dry matter) and presence or absence of propolis ethanolic extract (PEE) in the diet at 30% w/v were evaluated in this study. The intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients, milk production and composition, live weight, feed efficiency and concentrate use for milk production were evaluated. Eight Holstein cows were distributed in two 4 × 4 Latin squares. The experiment was carried out in four 21-day periods, the first fourteen days were for the […]

The experiment was carried out with the objective to evaluate the nutrient intakes and milk production and composition of lactating cows fed with rations containing different levels (0; 12,5; 25,0; 37,5 and 50.0%) of spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus Mill) and urea in substitution to the tifton grass hay. Five cows was distributed 5 × 5 Latin square experimental design. The dry matter and organic matter showed a quadratic effect with the inclusion of spineless cactus and urea. The crude protein […]

Thirty six mid lactating Holstein cows, 123 days in milk (DIM), were used to evaluate the substitution of ground corn (GC) by soybean hulls (SH) for in total mixed diets containing corn silage as the main forage source and citrus pulp as part of the energy source. The replacement of 0, 10 and 20% of ground corn by soybean hulls in total mixed diets (%DM) were evaluated: SH 0 – 0% SH and 20% GC, CS 10: 10% SH and […]

The objective of this study was evaluate the intake, milk production and composition, nutrients digestibility and feed efficiency of crossbred cows of low potential of production fed diets based on sugar cane. It was used eight cows crossbred Holstein/Gir, with medium live weight of 425 kg, after the initial third of lactation. They were distributed in two Latin squares (4×4), in agreement with the lactation order, feeding with complete diets to the sugarcane base, being, cane more urea (CAU); cane, […]