Feeding of dairy cows for optimum milk composition
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Date
2020-06
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Abstract
In India, current milk pricing to the dairy farmers is based on Fat and SNF content of
milk. Hence, to maximize the profit in dairy farming, more emphasis is given to
increasing fat and protein content of milk. There are many factors that can affect
milk composition which includes genetics, stage of lactation, level of milk production,
age of cow, environment, season, disease and nutrition. Fifty-five percent of the
variation in milk composition is due to heredity, while 45 percent is due to
environmental factors such as feeding management and climatic conditions. Hence,
nutrition stands as the primary means of manipulating milk constituents. Milk contains
87.7 % water and the solid components include fat, protein, lactose, minerals and
vitamins. Among these fat and protein are most subjected to changes due to dietary
manipulation. The other solid constituents of milk such as lactose, minerals and
vitamins generally do not respond to dietary manipulation. Optimizing the rumen
function is the key to maintain milk yield and its composition. Hence, feeding programs
with adequate protein and energy, rapidly fermentable carbohydrate, effective fiber, fat
and supplementation of feed additives are keys to increase milk composition.
Description
TNV_INFRM_2020_7(6)566-569
Keywords
Veterinary Science