UTILIZATION OF KUDZU (Pueraria phaseoloides) IN PRODUCTION OF MILK BASED ON WHOLE SUGAR CANE.

Abstract

Using a simple reversible design, two sources of supplemental protein were studied in milk production diets based on complete sugar cane and polished rice: Urea (TU) and kudzu hay (TK). Twelve Holstein-Cebu cows with a lactation period between 70 to 90 days were used. There were milked twice a day without the calf and fed in individual stable. The sugar cane was chopped daily and offered to the cows at libitum. The urea was mixed with the chopped sugar cane at 1% level, fresh base. The kudzu hay was restricted according to milk production and urea intake. The intake of sugar cane with and without urea was 17.2 and 15.2 kg (fresh base)/cow/day (4.9 and 4.5 kg, dry base) and the intake of total dry material was 5.96 and 8.51 kg/cow/day for TU and TK, respectively. There was a positive effect of kudzu hay on milk production (P<0.10), and fat corrected milk production (P<0.10). Nevertheless, there was no significant effect (P>0.15) of kudzu hay on milk composition. The cows with sugar cane lost body weigth (0.644 kg/cow/day) but cows with sugar cane and kudzu hay gained body weigth (0.004 kg/cow/day). Apparent in vivo digestibility of dry matter and protein of diet decreased (P<0.01) with the inclusion of kudzu hay in the diet. The cost of feeding was less with TU, but, with this treatment, part of the production of milk was accomplished at the expense of the corporal reserve of the animal.