Nutritional evaluation of Azolla Pinnata and Its Integration with Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal in dairy cattle diet for improving milk characteristics in Northwestern Himalayas

IF 2.2 3区 农林科学 Q2 AGRONOMY
Krishna Priya Biswal, Rohit Bishist, Prem Prakash, Prashant Sharma, Ngahanyui Kengoo, Kamal Kishore, Iqbal Singh
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Abstract

Sustainable livestock feeding strategies are imperative in the northwestern Himalayan region, where the rising costs and limited availability of conventional concentrates highlights the need for nutritionally rich and locally available alternatives. Replacing conventional concentrates with tree leaf meals offers a cost-effective and nutritionally viable option for sustaining milk production. This study assessed the nutritive value of Azolla pinnata and its potential as a sustainable feed supplement, either alone (20% Azolla) or in combination with Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal (10% Azolla + 10% Leucaena) for partial replacement of conventional concentrates in crossbred dairy cows. Twelve crossbred cows were divided into three groups (C, T1, and T2), with four animals in each group. The feeding trial lasted for 90 days. Animals in the control group were maintained on standard farm feeding practices (concentrate @ 4 kg/day, wheat straw @ 5 kg/day and green fodder @ 15 kg/day). In T1, 20% of the concentrates were replaced with Azolla meal, while in T2, the same proportion was replaced with a mixture of 10% Azolla and 10% Leucaena leaf meal. Milk yield and composition, including protein, fat, solid-not-fat, and total solids, were recorded throughout the study. The nutritional quality of Azolla varied significantly (p < 0.05) across different months. Winter months showed higher fiber fractions (15.62%) and dry matter (22.11%). In contrast, spring months recorded significantly (p < 0.05) higher values of crude protein, nitrogen-free extract, organic matter, calcium, and phosphorus. Although milk yield remained statistically similar across treatments, supplementation with Azolla and Leucaena significantly (p < 0.05) improved milk composition. The combined supplementation produced higher fat, protein, solid-not-fat, and total solids compared to the control. In conclusion, Azolla, particularly in combination with Leucaena, is a protein-rich and effective partial substitute for conventional concentrates. This strategy sustains milk yield, enhances milk quality, and provides a resilient solution to seasonal feed shortages in hill farming systems.

西北喜玛拉雅地区奶牛日粮中草芥及其与银合欢叶粕的营养价值评价
在西北喜马拉雅地区,可持续的牲畜饲养战略是必不可少的,在那里,成本上升和传统浓缩物的有限供应突出了对营养丰富和当地可用替代品的需求。用树叶代替传统的浓缩物为维持牛奶生产提供了一种成本效益和营养上可行的选择。本研究评估了红叶杜鹃的营养价值及其作为一种可持续饲料添加剂的潜力,无论是单独添加(20%红叶杜鹃)还是与银合欢叶粕(10%红叶杜鹃+ 10%银合欢)联合使用,都可以部分替代杂交奶牛的常规精料。将12头杂交奶牛分为C、T1、T2 3组,每组4头。试验期90 d。对照组采用标准农场饲养方法(精料@ 4 kg/d,麦秸@ 5 kg/d,青饲料@ 15 kg/d)。在T1阶段,将20%的浓缩物替换为杜鹃花粉,在T2阶段,将相同比例的浓缩物替换为10%杜鹃花和10%银合欢叶粉的混合物。在整个研究过程中,记录了牛奶的产量和成分,包括蛋白质、脂肪、非脂肪固体和总固体。不同月份的杜鹃花营养品质差异显著(p < 0.05)。冬季纤维含量和干物质含量分别为15.62%和22.11%。相比之下,春月份的粗蛋白质、无氮浸出物、有机质、钙和磷含量显著高于春月份(p < 0.05)。尽管不同处理的产奶量在统计学上保持相似,但添加杜鹃花和合肥草显著改善了乳成分(p < 0.05)。与对照组相比,联合补充产生了更高的脂肪、蛋白质、非脂肪固体和总固体。综上所述,杜鹃花,特别是与银合欢组合,是一种富含蛋白质的、有效的常规浓缩物的部分替代品。这一战略维持了牛奶产量,提高了牛奶质量,并为山地农业系统的季节性饲料短缺提供了一个有弹性的解决方案。
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来源期刊
Agroforestry Systems
Agroforestry Systems 农林科学-林学
CiteScore
5.30
自引率
9.10%
发文量
78
审稿时长
4.5 months
期刊介绍: Agroforestry Systems is an international scientific journal that publishes results of novel, high impact original research, critical reviews and short communications on any aspect of agroforestry. The journal particularly encourages contributions that demonstrate the role of agroforestry in providing commodity as well non-commodity benefits such as ecosystem services. Papers dealing with both biophysical and socioeconomic aspects are welcome. These include results of investigations of a fundamental or applied nature dealing with integrated systems involving trees and crops and/or livestock. Manuscripts that are purely descriptive in nature or confirmatory in nature of well-established findings, and with limited international scope are discouraged. To be acceptable for publication, the information presented must be relevant to a context wider than the specific location where the study was undertaken, and provide new insight or make a significant contribution to the agroforestry knowledge base
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