The effect of supplementation strategies on productive performance of fouga cows kept under range condition in Sudan

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementary feeding on milk yield, body condition score (BCS) and body weight of Fuga dairy cows in South Kordofan State, Sudan. Forty lactating cows and their calves were selected and were divided at random into four groups (each group 10 cows). After grazing, dairy cows were supplemented with experimental rations. Ration A had 10% molasses; Ration B 15% while ration C and ration D had 20%. Supplementation improved (P≤0.05) milk yield, cows fed with ration D recorded higher (P≤0.05) daily milk yield, followed by the other groups. Animal age affected BCS (P≤0.05): 7 year old cows had greater BCS than the other age groups 30-270 days post-partum. Age had no effect (P>0.05) on BCS at calving. Cows in first and second parity lost more (P≤0.05) BCS than those in third parity (P≤0.05). Cow over 7 years of age produced more (P≤0.05) milk than the younger cows. The study indicated that post-partum supplementation of nomadic dairy cows improved milk yield. Also the study emphasized the importance of the nutritional status of the cows at calving and early post-partum.