Effects of the inclusion of coffee pulp silage in the diet on the performance and profitability of crossbred milk cows in the middle tropics

by Selleckchem | Sep 06 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of coffee pulp silage (CPS) on the performance and profitability of crossbred cows in the middle tropics. The research took place at the Villa Marina Experimental Farm of the University of Pamplona, Pamplonita, Colombia. Four lactating multiparous bovines with a body weight of 380 ± 10 kg, 6 ± 0.03 years of age and a body condition of 3.8 on a scale of 1 to 5. The animals were distributed in a balanced 4 × 4 Latin square for residual effect. The experiment consisted of four subperiods of 21 days each, being the first 14 days of adaptation to the experimental diet and 7 days for taking samples. The base diet consisted of Pennisetum sp. forage, concentrated in a proportion of 0.2% of body weight, water, and mineralized salt at will. The inclusion of the CPS was included in levels of 4, 8, and 12% of the dry matter (DM) intake. DM intake parameters, nutrient digestibility, milk production and composition, blood parameters, and economic analysis were evaluated. Treatments were compared using orthogonal contrasts; contrasts were constructed in order to evaluate the effects of inclusion of CPS, and the linear and quadratic effects of level inclusion in the DM of the diet. For the variables which did not present inclusion of CPS effect but a linear or quadratic effect was significant, a Dunnett's test was performed to identify whether a supplemented treatment differed from the control. Significance was considered at P < 0.05 and tendencies when 0.05 < P ≤ 0.10. The inclusion of CPS in the diet increases (P < 0.05) the voluntary intake in kg day-1 of DM, organic matter (OM), CP, ethereal extract (EE), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC), digested OM (DM), neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap), DNDF and dietary NTD concentration, the total digestibility of DM and OM, and dietary DOM content. The production and chemical composition of milk was not affected (P > 0.10) by the inclusion of EPC in the diet. The inclusion of CPS increased (P < 0.05) the concentration of albumin and globulins in the blood. The inclusion of CPS in the diet improved the productive efficiency of dairy cattle. The inclusion of 4% CPS in the DM of the diet is a nutritional strategy, which improves the nutritional characteristics and the concentration of albumin and globulins in the blood of crossed dairy cows in the middle tropics and benefit: cost ratio without affecting milk production.

Comments:

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of including coffee pulp silage (CPS) in the diet of crossbred cows in the middle tropics, specifically evaluating their performance and profitability. The research was conducted at the Villa Marina Experimental Farm of the University of Pamplona in Pamplonita, Colombia.

The study utilized four lactating multiparous cows, each weighing approximately 380 kg with an age of around 6 years and a body condition score of 3.8 on a scale of 1 to 5. A balanced 4 × 4 Latin square design was employed to distribute the animals, considering residual effects. The experiment comprised four subperiods, each lasting 21 days. The first 14 days were designated for adaptation to the experimental diet, while the remaining 7 days were used for sample collection.

The base diet consisted of Pennisetum sp. forage, supplemented with concentrate at a rate of 0.2% of body weight, along with water and mineralized salt provided ad libitum. Coffee pulp silage was included in the diet at levels of 4%, 8%, and 12% of dry matter intake.

Several parameters were evaluated in the study, including dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, milk production and composition, blood parameters, and economic analysis. To analyze the data, orthogonal contrasts were used to compare the treatments. These contrasts were constructed to assess the effects of CPS inclusion, as well as the linear and quadratic effects of CPS level inclusion in the diet's dry matter.

The results indicated that the inclusion of CPS in the diet had a significant effect on several parameters. It increased the voluntary intake of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ethereal extract, non-fiber carbohydrates, digested organic matter, neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein, digestible neutral detergent fiber, and dietary net energy for lactation concentration. Furthermore, the total digestibility of dry matter and organic matter, as well as the dietary digestible organic matter content, were improved by the inclusion of CPS.

However, the production and chemical composition of milk were not significantly affected by the inclusion of CPS in the diet. In terms of blood parameters, the inclusion of CPS led to an increase in the concentration of albumin and globulins.

Overall, the study concluded that including CPS in the diet of dairy cattle in the middle tropics improved their productive efficiency without negatively impacting milk production. Specifically, the inclusion of 4% CPS in the diet's dry matter was identified as a beneficial nutritional strategy, enhancing nutritional characteristics and blood protein levels while maintaining milk production.