Maize is one of the important most nutritious non-legume green fodders which is free of antinutritional factors. An lactation trail was conducted in crossbred (Jersey × Sindhi) milch cows for 60 days to compare fodder maize and Cumbu Napier Hybrid (CN Hybrid) grass on the milk yield and milk composition parameters. Eighteen crossbred (Jersey × Sindhi) cows in second and third lactation with an average body weight of 363 ± 15.86 kg were selected and were randomly divided into six groups (6 × 3 cows). The experimental animals were fed with green fodders Maize and Cumbu Napier hybrid grass in different combinations viz., T1- Feeding green fodder with 100 % maize, T2- Feeding green fodder with 75 % maize + 25% CN Hybrid, T3- Feeding green fodder with 50 % maize + 50 % CN Hybrid, T4- Feeding green fodder with 25 % maize + 75% CN Hybrid and T5- Feeding green fodder with 100 % CN Hybrid. Control group animals (T6) were fed with paddy straw alone. The experimental data revealed that feeding of recommended green fodder as maize 100 % (T1) and feeding green fodder with 75 % maize + 25% CN Hybrid (T2) increased the milk yield and milk quality parameters. This was followed by the next best treatments such as CN hybrid grass feeding along with maize in different combination (T3, T4 and T5). Significantly higher milk fat and SNF was observed in T1 group. Significant (0.05%) difference in SNF was observed between treatments and control. Similar trend was observed in lactation length and inter calving period also. Hence it could be concluded that feeding 100% of recommended green fodder as maize increased the milk yield and milk composition in crossbred (Jersey × Sindhi) milch cows.

Cumbu Napier hybrid grass, Maize, Feeding, Milk yield, Lactation length, Fat, and SNF

From this experiment, it can be concluded that feeding green fodder as maize 100 % (T1) and feeding green fodder with 75 % maize + 25% CN Hybrid (T2) increased the milk yield and milk quality parameters like fat and SNF. The same trend was observed in lactation length and intercalving period also. Hence it could be concluded that feeding of recommended green fodder as maize at 100% or at 75% level in the roughage component can increase the milk yield and milk parameters in crossbred (Jersey × Sindhi) milch cows.

M. Suganthi, S. Gunasekaran, P. Anuradha, S. Usha and L. Radhakrishnan (2022). Comparing the Effect of Feeding Zea mays and Cumbu Napier Hybrid Grass on Milk Yield and its composition in Cross Bred (Jersey x Sindhi) Cattle. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4a): 264-267.