284
Berseem Hay for Dairy Cattle
For the experimental feeding group I was
allowed to continue the basal ration. For the
second and third groups 50 and 75 per cent of the
required concentrates were replaced by berseem
hay on the basis of protein.
The calves were weaned and the buffaloes were
milked twice daily and individual record of milk
yield was maintained. The experiment continued
for 11 weeks. Table VIII gives the average milk
yield per day during the experiment.
TABLE VIII
Average daily milk yield per animal of different groups (lb.)
Week ending
Basal
.
.
.
.
.
4-9-39
.
.
.
.
11-9-39
.
.
.
.
18-9-39
.
.
.
.
25-9-39
.
.
.
.
2-10-39
.
.
.
.
9-10-39
.
.
.
.
16-10-39
.
.
.
.
23-10-39
.
.
.
.
30-10-39
.
.
.
.
6-11-39
.
.
.
.
13-11-39
.
.
.
.
Total .
Average .
Group I
1 B
19.12
17.25
18.00
17.75
16.50
16.00
16.25
15.75
15.50
15.25
14.50
15.00
177.75
16.16
2 B
20.62
20.25
20.25
19.00
17.75
17.50
16.75
17.00
17.00
16.50
15.75
15.25
193.00
17.54
3 B
19.27
18.50
17.50
18.25
17.75
17.00
16.50
16.00
15.75
16.25
15.75
15.75
185.03
16.82
Group II
4 B
19.87
18.25
18.25
17.50
17.50
17.25
17.50
17.00
16.50
17.00
15.75
15.75
188.25
17.11
5 B
22.25
20.75
21.50
21.00
20.25
19.75
19.75
17.75
18.25
17.75
16.25
15.00
208.00
18.90
6 B
17.25
16.00
16.50
16.25
15.00
14.50
14.50
14.25
14.00
14.26
13.50
13.25
162.05
14.72
Group III
7 B
21.00
17.50
17.50
17.00
15.25
14.75
14.00
13.00
12.50
12.25
11.25
10.00
155.00
14.09
8 B
21.50
17.15
18.25
17.00
15.25
14.50
14.00
13.50
12.76
12.50
11.50
10.25
157.25
14.29
9 B
15.87
14.25
13.50
13.00
11.75
11.25
10.75
9.75
10.00
10.00
9.50
8.25
122.00
11.09
The adjusted analysis of variance of the average
milk yield indicates significant results, the order
being group I-group II>group III. The calcula-
ted average yield is 16.81, 16.81 and 13.26 lb. per
day for the three groups with a standard error of
0.2049. Regression of decrease in milk yield
shows that the rate of decrease per week for each
animal is in the same order as that of the analysis
of the average milk yield. The rate of decrease
is 0.331, 0.380 and 0.092 lb. for group I, group II
and group III respectively with a standard error
of 0.07678. However, the error is rather high,
being 16 per cent.
The average intake of dry matter by the animals
of the different groups was 3.35, 3.36 and 3.41 lb.
per 100 lb. of liveweight showing no variation in
the consumption due to the different treatments.
The record of liveweight also shows that there
was no significant difference in the average varia-
tion in liveweight of the animals of the three
groups during the experiment. Table IX shows
the relevant figures for liveweight.
TABLE IX
Average liveweight of buffaloes at the start and close
of the experiment
No. of
replica-
tions
1
2
3
Mean .
Initial liveweight in lb.
T 1
1,045
1,014
1,149
1,069
T 2
1,051 1,103
1,059
1,071
T 3
1,095
1,022
920
1,012
Final liveweight in lb.
T 1
1,059
1,035
1,190
1,095
T 2
1,098
1,149 1,110
1,119
T 3
1,12 1,043
996
1,053
Standard error per animal = 12.33 lb.
Composition of milk as affected by different rations
Milk samples were analysed at regular interval
during the experiment. Data obtained are tabu-
lated in Table X where each figure represents the
average analysis of six consecutive milkings. Fat
content and consequently total solids increased
with the advance in the lactation period for all the
groups. No appreciable difference in the composi-
tion of milk is noticed due to the different treat-
ments.