ON-FARM EVALUATION AND DEMONSTRATION OF UREA TREATED STRAW AND UREA MOLASSES BLOCK SUPPLEMENTATION TO CROSS-BRED DAIRY COWS AT LUME DISTRICT, EAST SHOA ZONE

On-farm study was conducted to evaluate and demonstrate the effects of urea treated straw and urea molasses block on milk yield, milk composition, feed intake and body weight gain of cross-bred lactating dairy cows in urban and peri-urban dairy production system of Lume District. Three treatments were considered: T1: urea treated straw + concentrate, T2: urea molasses block + untreated teff straw + concentrate and T3: untreated straw + concentrate. Pre-visit and survey was made and 40 cross-bred dairy cows with 2nd and 3rd parities were selected. Then cows assigned to treatments with RCBD design. Highly significant differences were observed between treatments in daily feed intake, daily milk yield and daily body weight gain. T2 was significantly higher than T1 and T3 where, the least square mean of total DM intake was 10.58 ± 0.09, 10.18 ± 0.08 and 10.1 ± 0.1 for T2, T1and T3 respectively. Daily weight gain was higher in T1 (0.28 ± 0.03 kg) and followed by T2 (0.16 ± 0.04 kg per day) and T3 (0.02 ± 0.04 kg per day). The daily milk yield was high in T2 (10.06±0.10 L per day) and followed by T1 (9.61±0.11L per day) and T3 (8.701±0.09L per day). On the other hand, significant difference observed between second and third parity, where third parity showed higher result in daily feed intake and daily milk yield. Daily body weight gain was higher in second parity cows. Similarly, higher daily DM intake and daily milk yield were observed in peri-urban than urban dairy production system where daily weight gain was not significantly different in both systems. In conclusion urea molasses block (T2) has showed increased daily DM intake and daily milk yield. In addition cost of production was low with high return and the method of preparation is simple and easy for smallholder farmers and other users. In addition the survey conducted on farmers used the UMB during the experiment also indicated its acceptance by milk producers of the area. Therefore, the smallholder farmers and commercial milk producers advised to use UMB to improve milk production of crossbred dairy cows.