Effect of Cowpea Hay Supplementation on Milk Production Performances of Local Crossbred Cattle (Bos indicus X Bos taurus) in Extensive System in Burkina Faso

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cowpea hay supplementation on milk production parameters. In each of the five farms involved, four lactating cows were selected, and assigned into two groups: group1 was supplemented after grazing with 3 kg of cowpea hay, while group 2 was the control group with no feed supplementation. The experiment lasted three months. The body condition scores (BCS) of the cows and the live weight of the calves were measured at the beginning and at the end of the test. Daily feed intake were recorded, and milk samples were collected. Mean BCS of 2.90 ± 0.20 and 3.15 ± 0.22 were recorded for group 1 at the beginning and the end of the test, respectively; while these values were 3.0 ± 0.20 and 3.10 ± 0.22 for group 2 (controls) (P > 0.05). Average live weights of the calves at the end of the test were 49.3 ± 6.30 and 43.0 ± 6.30, respectively, for group 1 and 2 (P < 0.05). Mean daily consumption of the feed supplement was 2.25 ± 0.40 kg / cow, and daily milk production was 1378 ± 496 ml / cow (group 1), against daily milk production of 1079 ± 496 ml / cow (group 2) (P > 0.05). Crude fat, crude protein, lactose, dry matter and ash levels were 3.25 ± 0.22%, 3.35 ± 0.33%, 5.17 ± 0.37%, 12.4 ± 1.78% and 9.21 ± 1.58%, respectively for group 1, against 2.95% ± 0.22, 3.31 ± 0.33%, 5.12 ± 0.37% 12.0 ± 1.78% and 10.2 ± 1.58% respectively for group 2 (P > 0,05). A profit of about 22 FCFA per liter was found with the supplemented group compared to the control group. It was concluded that milk production and calves growth performances can be increased economically by using cowpea hay as feed supplement for lactating cows in extensive system