The effect of leaf meal in supplements on milk yield and quality of Friesian Holstein dairy cows

This study aimed to determine the effect of leaf meals on the mik production of Friesian Holstein (FH) dairy cows. The 15 FH dairy cows were 5–6 years old and 3–5 months in lactation with a range in milk production of 9–12 kg/d. The leaf meal supplements used as feed comprised elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), leaf meal of Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) and Mulberry (Morus alba), partially replacing rice bran, coconut cakel, fish meal, maize epidermis, molasses, and minerals. This study used a completely randomized design with five replications for each of the three treatments: feed concentrate without leaf meal (control, CTL), feed concentrate wit 25% leaf meal (LM25) and feed concentrate with 50% leaf meal (LM50). Feeding the leaf meal to FH dairy cows had no effect on total dry matter intake. However, there was a linear increase in milk yield, and a depression in milk fat, as the level of leaf meal in the diet was increased.