FORMS OF SUGARCANE UTILIZATION AND LEVELS OF CONCENTRATE SUPPLEMENTATION FOR CROSSBRED MILKING COWS OF LOW PRODUCTIVITY

Abstract

The effects of sugarcane processing and increasing levels of concentrate were evaluated in the performance of Holstein x Zebu cows. Eight cows with average body weight of 478 ± 41 kg, between the third and fourth lactations, after the production peak, were distributed in 4x4 Latin square, with two simultaneous squares group in a joint analysis, being two forms of use of sugarcane (whole or chopped), in diets corrected with urea/ammonium sulfate and four levels of concentrate (0.6, 1.2, 2.4 and 4.8 kg/cow/day). Chopped sugarcane increased and the level of concentrate increased linearly dry matter intake (DMI) and its constituents and TDN intake; the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent insoluble fiber and non-fibrous carbohydrates; and the milk and milk production corrected to 3.5% fat. It was not observed effect of ways of use of the cane and the level of concentrate on milk components (protein, lactose, total dry extract and defatted dry extract) and somatic cell count. Feed efficiency (kg milk/kg DMI) reduced linearly with the increase of concentrate in the diet. The productive response (kg of milk/kg of concentrate) reduced with increasing inclusion of concentrate. The balance of nitrogenous compounds (BN) was higher with chopped sugarcane. The BN and the production of microbial crude protein increased in response to the increase in the level of concentrate of the experimental diets. Although the chopped cane and increase in the level of concentrate improved performance, it can be used whole cane and low level of concentrate for low producing crossbred cows, facilitating the management and reducing the cost with feeding.