Assessment of Feeding Strategy Effects on Rumen Fermentation Parameters and Milk Composition in Crossbred Dairy Cows in Northern Nigeria

This study assesses the effects of different feeding strategies on rumen fermentation characteristics and milk composition in Friesian-Bunaji crossbred dairy cows in northern Nigeria, contributing to the optimisation of feeding management for improving dairy productivity in smallholder and commercial settings. Dairy feeding strategies in northern Nigeria range from pure roughage-based systems using Napier grass and crop residues to intensive concentrate supplementation of rangeland-based diets, with different implications for rumen function and milk quality. This study allocates 36 crossbred dairy cows in three groups to evaluate three feeding strategies: roughage-only base diet (Napier grass plus groundnut haulm), base diet with 1.5 kilograms concentrate supplement daily, and total mixed ration with formulated roughage to concentrate ratio. Rumen fluid is collected via stomach tube at 2 and 6 hours post-feeding to measure pH, ammonia-N, volatile fatty acid concentrations and proportions, and rumen microbial populations. Milk yield, fat, protein, lactose, and somatic cell count are measured weekly over 12 weeks. Findings reveal that TMR feeding achieves the highest milk yield of 9.2 litres per day and milk fat percentage (3.9 percent), attributed to optimal rumen environment with pH maintained between 6.1 and 6.8. Roughage-only diet produces low milk yield (5.4 litres) and elevated milk urea nitrogen. Concentrate supplementation produces intermediate performance. Rumen propionate proportion is highest in TMR-fed cows, favouring gluconeogenesis and milk energy supply. The study recommends progressive transition to total mixed ration feeding for commercial dairy operations in northern Nigeria.

Keywords: feeding strategy, rumen fermentation, dairy cows, milk composition, northern Nigeria.