Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Young Researchers and Elite Club, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the partial replacement of soybean meal with a slow-release source of non-protein nitrogen in the dairy cattle ration on milk production, milk composition and economic implications. Forty-four cows with an average 193±39 days in milk and the average parity number of 3.1 ± 1.4 were assigned to one of the following treatments: the control ration (containing soybean meal), and the experimental ration containing non-protein nitrogen slow-release (0.75% of diet DM as slow-release source of non-protein nitrogen). The diets were fed to cows as total mixed ration and ad libitum. Milk production, milk composition, and blood urea nitrogen were measured. Milk yield, milk fat and protein percentage, somatic cell count, and blood urea nitrogen were not influenced by treatments (P >0.05). Income over feed cost (IOFC) for the diet containing non-protein nitrogen slow-release was significantly higher compared with the control treatment (P<0.01). Economic simulations, using the observed milk yield response, indicated that the change in IOFC was the highest when the remaining of diet was completed with wheat bran. Under conditions of this study, partial replacement of soybean meal with slow-release source of non-protein nitrogen resulted in improved economic outcomes.

Keywords

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