On-farm use of legume ( Phaseolus calcaratus) and Ruzi grass on rumen fermentation and milk production in lactating dairy cows

Abstract

The experiment was conducted on 10 small- holder dairy farmers under the administration of Dairy Promotion Organization of Thailand in the Northeast region of Thailand. The aim of the research was to investigate the effect of legume (Phaseolus calcaratus, PC) as roughage mixed with Ruzi grass for dairy cows. Fours cows per farm were assigned into 2 groups including Ruzi grass (control) and PC mixed with ruzi grass (at the ratio 50:50), were given ad libitum as a roughage sources. All cows were offered a concentrate with ratio to milk yield of 1:2. The results revealed that roughage source did not affect on ruminal pH and temperature, ammonia nitrogen, blood urea nitrogen, and milk urea nitrogen concentrations. High quality rough-age such as PC mixed with Ruzi grass could be advantages for dairy farming in the Northeast of Thailand.