Abstract:
A study was conducted at Haramaya University dairy farm to evaluate the feeding value of peanut meal (PM) with concentrate feeds on milk quality, milk yield, milk composition and its economic feasibility for Holstein Frisian cows. Changeover design was used in three periods each comprising 25 days plus the first seven days for adaptation and ten days for wash out residual effect between consecutive periods. Treatment diet was PM while soy bean meal (SBM) was used as control leveled at a ratio of 100PM: 0SBM (T1), 50PM: 50SBM (T2) and 0PM: 100SBM (T3). The basal diets were maize, wheat bran, minerals and vitamin premix while grass hay and corn silage were fed ad libitum. Results of analysis of chemical composition of ingredients and experimental feeds indicated presence of significant differences (P<0.05) accordingly PM has highest (CP=48.07%) than SBM (CP=46.9) and 20.49, 20.36 and 19.92 CP for T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The daily concentrate DMI was significant (P<0.05) higher for T1 than the other two treatments. Daily milk yield was significantly higher (P<0.05) for T1 (18.71) and T2 (18.17) as compared to T3 (17.96 l/d). There was highly significant difference (P<0.05) in milk fat due to treatments and stages of lactation (3.52, 3.59 and3.65) for T1, T2, T3 and (3.58). The CP% of milk was different among treatments (3.6, 3.61 and 3.63 of T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Result of Sensory evaluation of milk showed significant difference only in color. The treatment affected body weight and body condition scores of experimental cows. Economic analysis showed the highest net return (103290ETB) in T1 and the lowest (100185ETB) from T2. Generally, the experiment showed that replacement of peanut meal for soy bean meal has improved the milk yield, quality and economic return. Therefore, I recommend peanut meal for dairy producer to use as a supplement.
