Phytonutrient pellet supplementation enhanced rumen fermentation efficiency and milk production of lactating Holstein-Friesian crossbred cows

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of inclusion of dragon fruit peel pellet (DFPP) and dietary non-protein nitrogen (NPN) on nutrients digestibility, rumen fermentation efficiency, plasma antioxidant activity, microbial protein synthesis, milk yield and composition in lactating Holstein-Friesian crossbred cows. Four animals were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in 4 × 4 Latin square design. The treatments were as follows: 300 g DM of DFPP +100 g of urea (T1), 300 g DM of DFPP + 200 g of urea (T2), 400 g DM of DFPP + 100 g of urea (T3), and 400 g DM of DFPP + 200 g of urea (T4), respectively. The results showed that intake of rice straw was increased (P 0.05) the NDF and ADF digestibilities, but increased the apparent digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein (P 0.05) with the addition of DFPP. The DFPP improved (P < 0.01) microbial protein synthesis. The supplementation of DFPP and urea increased (P < 0.05) milk fat, whereas milk yield and 3.5% fat corrected milk were only increased (P < 0.05) by the DFPP supplementation. Based on these results, addition of DFPP at 400 g/animal per day with urea at 100 g/animal per day improved rumen fermentation, plasma antioxidant activity, milk yield and milk fat percentage.

Keywords

• Tropical fruit peel
• Food waste
• Plasma antioxidant capacity
• Livestock