Evaluation of milk yield from cattle fed on forage fertilized with specific mineral elements in Western Kenya

The study evaluated the effects of Desmodium (Desmodium intortum) as feed supplement to Napier grass (Pennisetum perpeureum) on milk yield and density and effects of fertilizer application levels on forage yield. Desmodium was planted using four different fertilizer combinations of Triple Supper Phosphate (TSP) fertilizer, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Zinc (Zn) and Lime and the treatments included; no fertilizer applied (control), 4t/ha FYM+70kg/ ha TSP, 2t/ha Lime+150kg/ha TSP+3kg/ha Zn and 4t/ha FYM+70kg/ha TSP+3kg/ha Zn. Napier grass was planted using uniform fertilizer combination (5t/ha FYM + 100kg/ha (NPK; 17:17:17)). The four Desmodium treatments were formulated into four different rations which were supplemented to Napier grass; 1=Napier grass+ Desmodium with no fertilizer applied, 2= Napier grass + Desmodium planted with 2t/ha Lime+150kg/ha TSP+3kg/ha Zn, 3= Napier grass + Desmodium planted with 4t/ha FYM+70kg/ha TSP + 3kg/ha Zn and 4= Napier grass+ Desmodium with 4t/ha FYM+70kg/ha TSP applied in the feeding experiment. Napier grass was fed ad libitum while Desmodium was wilted and fed at 10kg/cow/day. Rations were randomly assigned to four cows in a 4*4 Latin square design and means separated using Tukey’s range test at 95% confidence level. Results showed increase in forage quantity across the various cutting times and treatments used. Milk yield increased by 0.193 litres in ration 4, 0.332 litres in ration 3 and 0.593 litres in ration 2, except ration in 1 (control) where it decreased by 0.043 litres. Milk density also increased by 2.85g/l in ration 4, 4.74 g/l in ration 3 and 6.08g/l in ration 2. Fertilizer applications affect forage quantity and quality which consequently affect milk yield and density. Desmodium therefore provides readily available protein supplement for farmers. In order to ensure adoption and sustainability of feed improving technologies there is need to establish forage seed multiplication sites to ensure accessibility to the farmers.