Evaluation of Lablab Silage Substitution for Maize Silage as a Basal Feed on Dry Matter Intake, Milk Yield, and Composition on Crossbred Dairy Cows

Wogenie Birhanie Aklil; Zenebe Tesfa

Authors

Wogenie Birhanie Aklil Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 32, Bishoftu, ETHIOPIA https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5373-6915
Zenebe Tesfa Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 32, Bishoftu, ETHIOPIA https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6970-4455

Keywords:

Crossbred, Holstein Friesian, Cows, Lablab Silage, Total Dry Matter Intake, Milk Yield, Cost-Benefit Ratio

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of substituting maize silage with lablab silage on total dry matter intake, milk yield, and composition in crossbred Holstein Friesian cows at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center. A Latin square design tested four treatments: T1 (100% maize), T2 (80% maize, 20% lablab), T3 (70% maize, 30% lablab), and T4 (60% maize, 40% lablab). Increasing lablab significantly enhanced dry matter intake, with T4 reaching 15.82 kg/day (p < 0.01). Milk yield and protein content improved, with T4 producing 15.1 L/day (p < 0.05) and 2.88% protein (p < 0.1). T1 had the highest SNF (7.6%, p < 0.01). Higher lablab inclusion increased the nutritional content of the basal feed, crude protein (13.1%), fat (2.11%), and calcium (1.63%), particularly in T4. T2 offered the highest Benefit-Cost Ratio (2.84), making it cost-effective, while T4 had the highest Marginal Rate of Return (6.44), maximizing profitability for higher investments.

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