Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar

Table 2. Effect of frequency and level of supplementation of sugarcane and
Cratylia on nitrogen utilization by African wethers fed a low-
quality basal diet (Quilichao, Cauca, Colombia).
Parameter
a.m. 2
0.5% LW
Frequency and level of supplementation 1
a.m.
1% LW
20
a.m. + p.m. 3
0.5% LW
a.m. + p.m.
1% LW
N intake (g/day) 5.6 a 6.2 b 5.6 a 6.7 c 0.01
Fecal N (g/day) 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.5 0.1
Fecal N (% N intake) 62.5 a 57.1 b 59.9 a 52.0 c 2.0
Urine N (g/day) 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.6 0.2
Urine N (% N intake) 25.4 25.8 28.6 24.7 3.7
Retained N (g/day) 0.8 e 1.2 d 0.8 e 1.6 a 0.2
1. 60% sugarcane + 40% Cratylia argentea (leaves).
2. Supplement fed once a day at 0.5 or 1% LW.
3. Supplement fed twice a day at 0.5 or 1% LW.
4. Standard error.
* Values in the same column followed by the same letters do not differ significantly (P < 0.05), according to
Duncan’s test.
Conclusions
This study evidenced that the level and frequency of supplementary
feeding had a significant effect on N utilization by growing African-type
wethers. Results indicate, however, that feeding twice a day would only be
justified when high levels of forage-based supplements are offered. When the
high level (1% LW) of sugarcane and Cratylia was fed twice a day, there was
a 33% increase in N retention relative to feeding the same amount of
supplement once a day. This was not the case when the low level (0.5% LW)
was offered.
SE 4