Effects of Sorghum Silage in Lactating Buffalo Cow Diet: Biochemical Profile, Milk Yield, and Quality

Raffaella Tudisco, Valeria Maria Morittu, Nadia Musco, Micaela Grossi, Piera Iommelli, Biagio D’Aniello, Maria Ferrara, Federico Infascelli and Pietro Lombardi
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Raffaella Tudisco: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80100 Napoli, Italy
Valeria Maria Morittu: Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Nadia Musco: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80100 Napoli, Italy
Micaela Grossi: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80100 Napoli, Italy
Piera Iommelli: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80100 Napoli, Italy
Biagio D’Aniello: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
Maria Ferrara: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80100 Napoli, Italy
Federico Infascelli: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80100 Napoli, Italy
Pietro Lombardi: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80100 Napoli, Italy

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: The influence of replacing silage with sorghum silage in the diet of dairy buffalo cows on metabolic status and on milk yield, chemical characteristics, and fatty acid profile was studied. Forty dairy buffalo cows were included in the trial and divided into two homogeneous groups (SS, sorghum silage and CS, corn silage). Blood was collected at the end of the trial (120 days), individual milk yield was registered daily. Samples of milk were monthly collected and analyzed for fat, protein, and lactose. Moreover, fatty acid profiles of silages and milk were determined. Buffalo cows fed sorghum silage showed an average milk yield higher than group CS (kg/d 10.120 vs. 9.270; p < 0.05), probably due to the lower lignin content of sorghum silage (31.0 g/kg dry matter (DM)) compared to corn silage (47.0 g/kg DM) and, by consequence, to the higher digestibility of SS diet. The percentage of linoleic acid was significantly higher in milk of group CS (C18:2: 1.27 vs. 2.05%; p < 0.01) due to the higher content of these acids in corn than in sorghum silage. The omega 6/omega 3 ratio was significantly lower in milk from buffalo cows fed sorghum than those fed corn silage (7.8 vs. 12.9; p < 0.01). Serum biochemistry showed no negative effects of the corn replacing with sorghum.

Keywords: sorghum silage; corn silage; buffalo cows; milk; serum biochemistry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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