Abstract:
On-farm study was conducted to evaluate and demonstrate the effects of urea treated
straw and urea molasses block on milk yield, milk composition, feed intake and body
weight gain of cross-bred lactating dairy cows in urban and peri-urban dairy production
system of Lume District. Three treatments were considered: T1: urea treated straw +
concentrate, T2: urea molasses block + untreated teff straw + concentrate and T3:
untreated straw + concentrate. Pre-visit and survey was made and 40 cross-bred dairy
cows with 2nd and 3rd parities were selected. Then cows assigned to treatments with RCBD
design. Highly significant differences were observed between treatments in daily feed
intake, daily milk yield and daily body weight gain. T2 was significantly higher than T1
and T3 where, the least square mean of total DM intake was 10.58 ± 0.09, 10.18 ± 0.08
and 10.1 ± 0.1 for T2, T1and T3 respectively. Daily weight gain was higher in T1 (0.28 ±
0.03
kg) and followed by T2 (0.16 ± 0.04 kg per day) and T3 (0.02 ± 0.04 kg per day). The
daily milk yield was high in T2 (10.06±0.10 L per day) and followed by T1 (9.61±0.11L
per day) and T3 (8.701±0.09L per day). On the other hand, significant difference
observed between second and third parity, where third parity showed higher result in daily
feed intake and daily milk yield. Daily body weight gain was higher in second parity cows.
Similarly, higher daily DM intake and daily milk yield were observed in peri-urban than
urban dairy production system where daily weight gain was not significantly different in
both systems. In conclusion urea molasses block (T2) has showed increased daily DM
intake and daily milk yield. In addition cost of production was low with high return and
the method of preparation is simple and easy for smallholder farmers and other users. In
addition the survey conducted on farmers used the UMB during the experiment also
indicated its acceptance by milk producers of the area. Therefore, the smallholder farmers
and commercial milk producers advised to use UMB to improve milk production of crossbred
dairy cows.
