By Admin
A study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding hydroponics maize fodder on performance of milking cows of Friesian breeds under edaphic climatic conditions of Gicumbi district, Kageyo sector. Stage of lactation, period of lactation, conventional feeding mode, cow body weight, and form of feeds were taken into consideration. A total of 9 milking cows were allocated in a completely randomized block design to 3 treatments. Treatment 1 contained 100% of conventional feedings (Conv100); Treatment 2 contained 70% of conventional feeding and 30% of hydroponic maize fodder (Conv70 HM). While Treatment 3 had 100% of conventional feedings together with supplement of hydroponic maize fodder (Conc100% HMS). Each treatment worked on an experimental unit which is cow milked with three replicates to each treatment. The experiment was lasted for ten days with respect to the above outlined informative point conditions.
Apparently, milk production is one of the fastest growing business sector in developing countries like Rwanda (MINAGRI, 2014). Compared to ruminants, cows are prolific, have high feed conversion efficiency, and easy to manage (Ouma et al., 2014). According to Tewe and Egbunike (1998), milk cow production represents the cheapest means of correcting animal protein shortage among the impoverished people in Rwanda. Through GIRINKA MUNYARWANDA program, most Rwandan citizens have the ability to have a cow. However, their production is facing tremendous set back and on the verge of collapse due to unavailability of space and feed, which accounts for 70-80% of the total cost of production (Olomu and Oboh, 1995). The major factors responsible for the shortage of green fodder are scarcity of land due to small land holding size, water shortage and labour (Naik et al., 2015). A possible way of solving this problem of feed scarcity in cow industry is through the use of hydroponic farming systems. Fodder produced by growing plants in water or nutrient rich solution without using any soil is known as hydroponics fodder, sprouted grains or sprouted fodder (Dung et al., 2010a).
Different types of fodder crops such as barley (Reddy et al., 1988), oats, wheat (Snow et al., 2008); sorghum, alfalfa, cowpea (AI-Karaki and AI-Hashimi, 2012) and maize (Naik et al., 2012) can be produced by hydroponics technology. Hydroponics fodder is more palatable, digestible and nutritious while imparting other health benefits to the animals (Suraj et al., 2016). Naik et al. (2015) reported yields of 5-6 folds of fresh hydroponics maize fodder in 13 days. Supplementation of sprouted fodder in the ration of cows is a viable possible alternative technology to conventional green fodder (Naik et al., 2015). However, there is paucity of information on the use of hydroponically sprouted maize fodder to milking cows. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding hydroponics maize fodder on the cow milk production performance of milked cows.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study site and experimental design This study was carried out at Kageyo sector to different identified cow farmers. It is in Gicumbi district, Rwanda. A total of 9 milking cows were given by cow farmers namely UWAYEZU Antoine, Minani Gaspard and NDUNGUTSE Emmanuel, The cows were taken and fed in cool and wet climatic conditions. It is in Gicumbi DISTRICT, Kageyo sector. The milking cows were allotted into a block per experimental unit. The block had three milking cows replicated thrice. A block was allocated into 3 treatments. Treatment 1 contained 100% of conventional feedings (Conv100); Treatment 2 contained 70% of conventional feeding and 30% of hydroponic maize fodder (Conv70 HM). While Treatment 3 had 100% of conventional feedings together with supplement of hydroponic maize fodder (Conc100% HMS). .
Hydroponics fodder maize was produced in a hydroponics chamber measuring about 7.8m× 3.3m × 3.3m with a daily production potential of 600 kg fresh hydroponics maize fodder and equipped with automatic sprayer irrigation of tap water. Clean seeds of maize (Zea mays) were soaked in tap water for 4 h and were then distributed in the greenhouse trays with a seed rate of 7.6 kg/m2. On first day, the trays containing the soaked seeds are put on the top most rows of the rack and then every day these are shifted to their respective below rows till they reach the down last row on seventh day. Inside the green house, the plants are allowed to grow for 7 days and then on eighth day, these are harvested and fed to the dairy animals. Experimental animals, feeding and management Nine dairy cows (avg. BW 380 kg; avg. milk yield 3.0 l) were divided into 3 equal groups on basis of their feeding mode (Treatment 1 contained 100% of conventional feedings (Conv100); Treatment 2 contained 70% of conventional feeding and 30% of hydroponic maize fodder (Conv70 HM). While Treatment 3 had 100% of conventional feedings together with supplement of hydroponic maize fodder (Conv100% HMS). All the animals were kept in well ventilated,
“Strong economic growth, and especially a significant increase in private sector investment, is the only sustainable path forward for Rwanda.”
Rwanda President, H.E Paul KAGAME
above results should be taken into consideration to improve cow feeding in Gicumbi District, Kageyo Sector. This is due to as more increase the feeds, the milk production increases. This indicates that the cows in this area have undernourishment problem. This is a positive correlation between the cow feeding methods and mode with milk production specifically feeding hydroponic maize fodder. Milk cow require hydroponic maize fodder for high milk yield. The adoption of this technique has enabled the production of fresh forage from grains without soil. Hydroponic fodder has high nutritive value due to the conversion of complex compounds into simpler and essential form, and activation of enzymes during germination. Thus, it contains high protein, vitamins and minerals which are essential for dairy cows. There were improvements in digestibility and intake of nutrients results in increased milk yields and quality like milk fat of dairy cow on the feeding of hydroponic fodder.
Conclusion
Based on the present study, it is concluded that use of hydroponic maize fodder contributes to increase in milk yield, the digestibility of nutrients and net profit in lactating cows. In general, research data on dairy cows is limited to determine definitively whether or not feeding the fodder changes production enough to warrant the additional cost. Therefore, this area requires further information to draw a concrete conclusion about feeding hydroponic fodder