Replacing soybean meal by high energy cottonseed meal in diets for dairy cattle: milk composition and economic viability

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of including increasing levels of high-energy cottonseed meal (zero, 8.7, 17.4, 26.1 and 34.8% of dry matter) in replacement to soybean meal in concentrate for cows on third-end lactation, composition and economic viability. Five Holstein-Zebu lactating cows were distributed in Latin square 5x5 design, with five periods of 18 days. Diets were isonitrogenous, with 60% of corn silage and 40% of concentrate, as total mixed ration. Milk fat content and yield, and milk protein content were not influenced by the different protein sources. The inclusion of cottonseed meal high in energy to about 35% in the concentrate did not change the milk composition , and within the market situation in which they conducted the experiment to replace the soybean meal by cottonseed meal in high-energy diets cows average yield potential (+/- 15 kg/animal/day) can increase the profitability.