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Welfare assessment traits, milk quantity and quality, and profitability of Anatolian buffalo cows confined in closed-tied or semi-open free-stall barns can be affected by supplementary feeding at milking |
İbrahim Cihangir Okuyucu1 
, Ahmet Akdağ2,*
, Hüseyin Erdem1
, Canan Kop-Bozbay2
, Samet Hasan Abacı1
, Ali Vaiz Garipoğlu1
, Esin Hazneci3
, Nuh Ocak1
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1Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55139, Samsun, Türkiye
2Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, 26480, Eskisehir, Türkiye
3Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55139, Samsun, Türkiye |
Correspondence:
Ahmet Akdağ, Tel: +90-0-362-3121919, Fax: +90-0-362-4576034, Email: ahmeta@ogu.edu.tr
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Received: 14 September 2023 • Revised: 15 November 2023 • Accepted: 5 December 2023 |
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| Abstract |
Objective
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of offering (OSF) or not (NSF) supplemental feed at milking on temperament (TS), udder hygiene (UHS) and body condition (BCS) scores, and milk yield per milking (MYM), milk quality traits, and profitability of primiparous Anatolian buffalo cows at 90 days of lactation confined in closed-tied (CB) or semi-open free-stall (OB) barns.
Methods
In Experiment I, 108 cows were selected to encompass four treatments (OBOSF, OB-NSF, CB-OSF, and CB-NSF) of 27 cows, considering barn type (OB and CB) and supplementary feed (OSF and NSF) at milking. In Experiment II, 60 OB cows were selected to encompass one of five groups of 12 cows each: i) no supplemental feed (CON), ii) commercial concentrate (CC), iii) CC + corn silage (CCS), iv) CCS + alfalfa hay (CSA), or v) CC + ryegrass silage (CRS) at milking.
Results
The TS and UHS of the OB and OSF cows were lower (better) than those of the CB and NSF cows, respectively. The OSF increased milk protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat but decreased milk freezing point and electrical conductivity compared with the NSF. The MYM and milk fat of the OB-OSF cows were higher than those of the OB-NSF and CBNSF cows. The TS and UHS of the cows negatively correlated with MYM and some milk chemicals (fat, protein, and solids-not-fat), but BCS correlated positively. The TS and milk electrical conductivity of the CCS, CSA, and CRS cows were lower than those of the CON and CC cows, but BCS, MYM, and milk fat were higher. Partial budget analysis identified a higher net profit for supplemental feed-offered groups (OB-OSF, CCS, CSA, and CRS).
Conclusion
Offering roughage with concentrates at milking for indoor primiparous buffalo cows is more conducive to well-being, milk yield, milk quality, and economy. |
| Keywords:
Barn Condition; Feeding Management; Milk Production; Partial Budget Analysis; Temperament Score; Water Buffalo |
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