Evaluation of bioensilage of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) and oats (Avena sativa L.) as supplements for dairy cows

• Byron Leoncio Diaz Monroy ^[1] ; Arabel Elías Iglesias ^[2] ; Elaine Valiño Cabrera ^[2]
  1. [1] Ingeniero Zootecnista
  2. [2] ICA
• Localización: Archivos Latinoamericanos de Producción Animal, ISSN 1022-1301, ISSN-e 1022-1301, Vol. 22, Nº. 1-2, 2014
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • An evaluation was performed on bioensilages incorporating different levels of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) and oats (Avena sativa L.) and addition of a microbial inoculant based on whey, as supplements for dairy cows in Ecuador. Production criteria and the ratio income/feed costs were determinants. The four treatments used were: T0 (100% fresh broccoli—presently used procedure), and the three bioensilages: T1, T2, and T3 (50-50, 62.5-37.5, and 75-25 % broccoli-oats, respectively), with ten replicates per treatment and a completely randomized experimental design. Observed variables were: pH and chemical composition of the ensilages, weight and body condition of the cows, milk production, incidence of detected estrus, and income/feed cost ratio. Statistical analysis utilized INFOStat/L 2009. A symmetric curve described the decrease in pH until reaching 4.3 during 22 d of fermentation. The ensilages analyzed from 15.9 to 18.5% dry matter, 26.3 to 29.4% crude fiber, and 16.7 to 19.3% crude protein (the former two fractions varying inversely and the latter directly with the level of broccoli). Treatment T3 gave the best mean results in daily milk production, 14.55 L; body condition score, 3.73 (on a 1 to 5 scale); cows observed in heat 89.2%; and income/feed cost ratio, 1.23. The microbial inoculant seems to accelerate and regulate the fermentation. These bioensilages have a higher concentration of nutrients than fresh broccoli and their use as supplements to dairy cows can increase milk production and profitability.