Effect of Different Rumen Undegraded Protein Level on Feed Consumption, Nutrient Digestion, Body Weight and Body Condition Score in Early Lactating Dairy Cattle

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine effect of different rumen undegraded protein level on feed consumption, nutrient digestion, body weight and body condition score in early lactating dairy cattle. Ten Friesian Holstein cows were divided into two groups (five animals were used as control and another group as treatment object). Diets were forages and concentrates with ratio of 60:40, DM basis. The cows feed after parturition until 100 days of lactation. The control group concentrate diets containing Crude Protein (CP) 18.55%, Total Digestible Nutrient (TDN) 56.94% and Rumen Undegraded Protein (RUP) 5.10 CP%, while the treatment group concentrate diets containing Crude Protein (CP) 18.83%, Total Digestible Nutrient (TDN) 58,91% and Rumen Undegraded Protein (RUP) 6.17 CP%. Drinking water was given by ad libitum. The comparison results between the two conditions (control and treatment) were tested using independent t-test analysis. Results indicated that nutrient intake and digestion (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre and ether extract), body weight and body condition score were not significant. The conclusion is supplementation with different rumen undegraded protein level on early lactating dairy cattle could not increase feed consumption, nutrient digestion, body weight and body condition score.