EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PROTEIN SOURCES DIETS ON MILK YIELD AND COMPOSITION OF WHITE FULANI COWS

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of different protein source diets on milk yield and composition of lactating White fulani cows. A total of 20 lactating White fulani cows were selected and treated against diseases prior to the commencement of the experiment and randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups with 5 replicates in a Completely Randomized Design. The treatment groups consisted of T0 (formulated diet as control), T1 (23% copra meal/100 kg diet), T2 (23% cottonseed cake/100 kg diet), and T3 (23% soybean milk residue/100 kg diet). The experiment lasted for 8 weeks, and the parameters measured include feed intake, weight gain, milk yield and composition. The chemical composition of the diets varied significantly (P < 0.05), with T2 showing the highest crude protein (14.33%) and ether extract (2.72%), while T3 had significantly higher fibre fractions (ADF 38.10%; NDF 59.06%).The results  showed that, cows fed with 23% cotton seed cake/100 kg diet (T2) had significantly (P < 0.05) higher total milk yield (128.60 kg), daily milk yield (3.05 kg/day) and feed conversion efficiency (0.55). Milk composition parameters also significantly (P < 0.05) differed, with T2 recording the highest milk fat (5.10%), milk protein (3.50%), total solids (15.46%), ash (0.81%), and the lowest somatic cell count (180 × 10³/mL), indicating superior udder health and nutrient partitioning. In contrast, T3 consistently showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower values for these parameters, attributed to its higher fibre and lignin content, which reduced nutrient digestibility. This finding suggested that 23% cottonseed-cake/100 kg diet (T2) can be used as protein supplement to improve milk yield and composition, making it the recommended protein source for enhancing dairy productivity in indigenous cattle raised under tropical conditions.