Evaluation of Cassava as an Energy Source in Concentrate Feed for Dairy Cows in Kenya

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the optimal inclusion level of cassava root meal in dairy concentrates using 12 and 10 lactating cows in 3 x 3 and 2 x 2 latin square designs respectively, Milk yield and butterfat for rations A, B and C containing 0, 200, and 450 g/kg cassava root meal respectively (experiment 1) were 11.7, 11.6kg/day and 3.7, 4.0 and 3.1% respectively. The OM percentage digestibilities were 63.2, and 68.7 respectively. The differences between the diets were not significant (P>0.05). In experiment 2, (rations D and E with 0 and 570 g/kg cassava respectively) milk yields were 11.3 and 11.1 kg/day respectively; the treatment means were not significantly (P>0.05). Milk fat concentration for each of the diets was 4.2%. Total substitution of maize meal with cassava had no significant (P>0.05) effect on the in-vivo digestibility of either DM or OM. The DM digestibilities for diets D and E were 66.1 and 68.0% respectively. Costing of the feed ingredients used in compounding the concentrae diets revealed that 100% substitution of maize meal with cassava meal was economical and was associated with a reduction in the feed cost of Ksh. 328 (18 U.S. dollars) per tonne. The results indicate that cassava meal is an acceptable ingredient in the concentrate feeds for dairy cows and can totally substitute for maize meal even at high levels of 570 g/kg.