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Research article2005Peer reviewed

The browsing dromedary camel - II. Effect of protein and energy supplementation on milk yield

Dereje M, Uden P

Abstract

An on-farm experiment was conducted in Erer Valley of Eastern Ethiopia to study the effects on milk yield in lactating dromedary camels, of supplementing with a protein or energy concentrates. The treatments were control: browsing only; energy supplement (ES): browsing + ground maize (Zea mays) and protein supplement (PS): browsing + decorticated groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cake. The experiment was replicated both in the dry and wet seasons. Six dromedary camels with estimated live weights of 453-473 kg were allocated randomly at peak lactation to one of three treatments in a double 3 x 3 Latin Square design. All camels were grazed during daytime hours, and camels receiving supplements were fed 4 kg of either supplement, divided in two equal moming and evening meals for a period of 63 days in both the dry and wet seasons. Milk yield differences between all treatments were significant (P < 0.001) with PS > ES > control, being 12.9, 9.1 and 7.6 kg for PS, ES and control, respectively. There were also differences (P < 0.05) between the treatments with regard to fat, with PS > control and ES, showing levels of 39, 37 and 37 g/l, respectively. Within-season variation in milk yields was similar among dietary treatments, and also highly significant (P < 0.001). Milk yield and fat differences between seasons were also significant, with 9.2 and 10.4 kg milk (P < 0.001) and 37 and 38 g/l fat (P < 0.05), were recorded for the dry season and wet season, respectively. There were no differences between treatments and seasons with regard to milk protein contents. Results show that oil seed by-products with relatively high crude protein value, such as groundnut cake, have a substantial effect on milk production in camels. This finding is of particular importance for regions where traditional range feed resources are becoming scarce. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Published in

Animal Feed Science and Technology
2005, Volume: 121, number: 3-4, pages: 309-317 Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Veterinary Science
    Animal and Dairy Science

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2005.01.018

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/7738