Agriculture (Jan 2021)

Effects of Sorghum Silage in Lactating Buffalo Cow Diet: Biochemical Profile, Milk Yield, and Quality

  • Raffaella Tudisco,
  • Valeria Maria Morittu,
  • Nadia Musco,
  • Micaela Grossi,
  • Piera Iommelli,
  • Biagio D’Aniello,
  • Maria Ferrara,
  • Federico Infascelli,
  • Pietro Lombardi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11010057
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
p. 57

Abstract

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The influence of replacing silage with sorghum silage in the diet of dairy buffalo cows on metabolic status and on milk yield, chemical characteristics, and fatty acid profile was studied. Forty dairy buffalo cows were included in the trial and divided into two homogeneous groups (SS, sorghum silage and CS, corn silage). Blood was collected at the end of the trial (120 days), individual milk yield was registered daily. Samples of milk were monthly collected and analyzed for fat, protein, and lactose. Moreover, fatty acid profiles of silages and milk were determined. Buffalo cows fed sorghum silage showed an average milk yield higher than group CS (kg/d 10.120 vs. 9.270; p p p < 0.01). Serum biochemistry showed no negative effects of the corn replacing with sorghum.

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