Abstract :
[en] Experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of cottonseed meal (CSM) and Vitellaria paradoxa leaves in rainy season supplementation on milk yield, composition of the milk, live weight changes and their economical returns. To examine these effects, fifteen (15) Borgou cattle, in late lactation were offered three (3) dietary treatments: grazing natural pasture (control); the two other treatments received in addition cottonseed meal and Vitellaria paradoxa leaves supplements. The experiment lasted ten (10) weeks, including an adaptation period of two (2) weeks. Average daily milk yield was 946,58 g, 1690,07 g and 1176,89 g for the control, cottonseed meal and Vitellaria paradoxa leaves group respectively. Dietary treatments had a significant (p< 0,05) effect on milk yield during the trial. Only cows supplemented CSM produce significantly more milk than those unsupplemented (increasing of 78,54 %). But there is no differences among supplemented group. Cottonseed meal group produce more than 43,60 % milk yield compared to the second supplemented group. The treatments had a significant effect on total solid and milk ash. But no significant effect was observed on fat and protein content. The over all mean values were 15,12 %, 0,35 %, 5,92 % and 4,13 % respectively for total solid, ash, fat and protein content. There were no significant differences (p<0,05) in live weight changes of supplemented group cows. Further more, calves live weight changes were significantly different. Supplemented groups calves live weight increase was significantly more than those unsupplemented from birth to the end of the trial (212,06 g/d and 219,10 g/d versus 161,1 g/d). From birth to the beginning of the trial, only Vitellaria paradoxa leaves group calves had a significant increase in live weight changes. Only CSM group calves had a significant increase in live weight changes (124,98 g/d versus 53,54 g/d for non supplemented group calves) during the trial. Calves live weight changes from birth to the beginning of the trial were highly significantly correlated with those from birth to the end of the trial for all the experimental herd and for CSM group (r = 0,96 and r = 0,99). In other hand, these two live weight changes were slightly correlated for the control (r = 0,96) and Vitellaria paradoxa group (r = 0,97). A net return analysis shows that cottonseed meal and Vitellaria paradoxa supplementation in rainy season was profitable even if Vitellaria paradoxa was more beneficial.
