Fodder and forage production in Pakistan is seasonal and this leads to erratic supply of feedstuffs to the animals. After a rich legume season, a depression period occurs, which is replaced by non-legume forages and followed again by a scarce fodder supply season. These changes in the forage supply have unfavorable effect on livestock performance. The key solution to this problem is the conservation of forages for the time, when there is feed scarcity. Keeping in view the existing availability of green fodders and silage additive products, the methods of developing alternative means to ensure availability of quality feed to animals having high nutritive value.
The Experiment was carried out at Livestock Production Research Institute, (LPRI), Bahadurnagar, Okara. Two types of corn silages were prepared, one was be untreated corn silage (Control as diet-b) and other corn silage was treated with inoculants; a commercial product "Sil-All" by ALL-TECH, (diet-a). Eighteen healthy lactating Sahiwal cows at the same milking stage were randomly distributed to two groups A and B (9 each) and were fed individually. Data was collected during the feeding experiment of 60 days duration on feed intake, daily milk production, milk composition, silage composition and body weight gain. Sahiwal cows belonging to all groups were offered concentrate according to milk production @ 1 Kg for each 3 liter of milk produced. Milk samples were analyzed for Lactose, Fat, SNF and Protein using "Milk-O-Scan" in the Dairy Laboratory of LPRI, Bahadurnagar, Okara. The feed samples were analyzed in the laboratory for Dry Matter, Crude Protein, Ether Extract, Crude Fiber, ADF, NDF and Ash contents. The data thus obtained was analyzed through Paired Sample T-test.
Daily silage intake in Sahiwal cows was 30.12±0.601 and 26.29±0.614 kg fed on inoculated silage and untreated corn silage, respectively. Inoculated silage intake was higher (P < 0.05) in Sahiwal lactating cows than cows on untreated corn silage. Milk production was higher in cows of group A fed with inoculated Silage. The results showed that Sahiwal cows fed on inoculated corn silage and untreated (control) corn silage produced 6.11±0.40 and 5.94±0.28 liters milk daily, respectively. It is also evident from the data that the cows on inoculated silage diet produced milk significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the cows under control.
Mean milk fat contents were 5.65±0.11 and 4.95±0.03 % in the milk of Sahiwal cattle fed on inoculated and untreated corn silage diets, respectively. The results showed that the cows under inoculated silage feeding produced significantly more milk fat than the cows under control. Higher (P < 0.05) milk fat contents were recorded in cows on inoculated silage than on control. Mean milk protein in the milk of Sahiwal cows fed on inoculated and untreated corn silage were 3.11±0.02 and 2.85±0.05 %, respectively. Lactose content were also higher (4.62±0.04 %) in cows on treated corn silage diet as compared to cows on control diet (4.22±0.03 %). Significantly higher (P < 0.05) solids not fat contents were recorded in cows on inoculated silage diet than the cows on untreated corn silage diet (7.72±0.14 %).
Sahiwal cows given inoculated corn silage diet had higher (329.09±5.028 kg) body weight than the cows under control (322.96±5.08 kg). A non-significant difference (P>0.05) was observed among treatment. Sahiwal cows showed a fortnightly weight gain of 01.029±0.017 and 00.712±0.010 Kg per cow fed on inoculated and untreated corn silage, respectively.
Silage pH was also improved in the diet containing inoculated silage (3.90±0.05) than the untreated silage showing a pH level at 4.08±0.35 in the untreated corn silage, showed non-significant difference (P>0.05).Dry matter contents in the inoculated corn silage had higher (30.40±0.60 %) DM % while untreated corn silage had the lowest (28.14± 0.84 %), statistically significant (P < 0.05). Mean crude protein level was 6.27±0.33 and 5.39±0.28 % in the diets having inoculated corn silage and untreated silage, respectively.
Highest value (9.17±0.75 %) of Ether Extract was recorded in inoculated corn silage diet, while untreated silage diet showed lowest (7.69± 0.24 %) value, and significant difference (P <0.05) was observed. Inoculated corn silage diet had highest (25.17±0.35 %) crude fiber level, while untreated corn silage diet showed lowest (24.51±24.51 %) crude fiber level. Inoculated silage diet had the highest (53.41±0.79 %) NDF, while untreated silage diet showed the lowest (49.34± 0.58 %) feed NDF. A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in the inoculated diet as compared to untreated silage. The inoculated silage diet had the highest (30.23±1.00 %) ADF, while untreated silage diet had the lowest (28.26± 0.63 %) level showed a significant difference (P<0.05).The diet untreated had the highest (9.16±0.82 %) ash level while the level of Ash contents was lowest (7.69± 0.24 %) in the inoculated diet.
The results of the trial indicated significantly higher daily intake and increased milk production in Sahiwal cows was recorded when fed on inoculated silage diets. Milk constituent (Fat, Protein, Lactose and SNF) were also improved significantly in cows under inoculated corn silage diets. Sahiwal cows given inoculated corn silage diet had higher body weight than the cows under control. The composition of inoculated silage diet (DM, CF, NDF, ADF and Ash %) was also improved significantly as compared to untreated silage diet. On the basis of results presented in the study it is concluded that the use of additive or inoculant like Sill-All can be used to enhance milk production and overall performance of dairy cows.