Palm kernel cake for lactating cows in pasture: intake, digestibility, and blood parameters

Abstract

Multiparous dairy cows (n=16) of the Holstein x Gir crossbreed, with an average weight of 436.6 kg (±59.7), were tested to determine the best level of Palm kernel cake in a dietary supplement for lactating cows at pasture. The experiment utilized a Latin square design, with the cows distributed in four Latin squares. Intake, digestibility of nutritional fractions, and the metabolic profile, as determined from blood parameters, were analyzed for grazing cattle with a dietary supplement containing 0, 25, 50, and 75% of palm kernel cake. Intake of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, nonfibrous carbohydrates, total carbohydrates, and total digestible nutrients within the supplement, as well as the intake of total crude protein, total ether extract, and total nonfibrous carbohydrates, were negatively influenced by level of Palm kernel cake supplementation. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, nonfibrous carbohydrate, and total carbohydrates was significantly reduced with an increased percentage of Palm kernel cake in the supplement. The concentration of blood glucose was not affected by the amount of Palm kernel cake (P>0.05). However, these averages of ureic nitrogen are still considered to be physiological norms. A decrease in intake, digestibility of crude protein and nonfibrous carbohydrates indicates that Palm kernel cake is not an adequate ingredient in nutritional supplements for dairy cows at pasture.