This study was carried out to assess the effect of feeding kikuyu grass silage with two levels of concentrate feed mixture ( 60 & 40 % ) on nutrient digestibility feeding value milk production, feed efficiency and economical efficiency of lactating cows.
Three digestibility trail and milk production were done using six lactating cows (435 ± 9.5 kg in average) using swing over method to evaluate the following experimental rations.
Control ration (C): 60% of concentrate feed mixture (CFM) + berseem hay (BH) ad libitum according to NRC (1989) requirement, T1: 60% CFM + kikuyu grass silage ad lib and T2: 40% CFM + kikuyu grass silage ad lib.
The main result showed that the total dry matter intake as kg / h / d or per 100 kg / B.W. increased with decreasing concentrate feed mixture. The digestion coefficient of DM and CP for ration T1 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the control while the digestion coefficient of CF, EE and NFE for ration T2 were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of control ration (C). Feeding values as TDN and DCP of ration T2 were the highest (p < 0.05) than other ration (T1 & C). The daily milk yield as fat corrected milk (FCM ) of T2 ration ( 12.24 kg ) was significantly ( p < 0.05 ) higher than C and T1 rations ( 10.60 and 11.27 kg ) respectively . The fat yield took the same trend of FCM. The feed efficiency of lactating cows fed ration contacting K.G.S were the best feed efficiency of milk production compared with the control ration. The economical efficiencies and return per Kg FCM were higher far cows fed rations contain kikuyu grass as a silage (T1 and T2) than control ration (C).
The results indicated that, feeding ration K.G as silage can be used in lactating cows rations without any adverse effects.