Effect of ground corn cobs as a fiber source in total mixed ration on feed intake, milk yield and milk composition in tropical lactating crossbred Holstein cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ground corn cobs (GCC) as a sole fiber source in total mixed ration (TMR) on feed intake, milk yield and milk composition in tropical lactating crossbred Holstein cows. Four multiparous crossbreds Holstein Friesian dairy cows with an initial body weight (BW) of 415.5 ± 26.20 kg were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The dietary treatments of TMR contained a roughage-to-concentrate ratio of 40:60. The roughage source was used at different ratios of GCC to rice straw (RS) at 100:0, 82.5:17.5, 67.5:32.5, and 50:50 for TMR1 to TMR4, respectively. The results revealed significant improvements in intake of dry matter, protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and metabolizable energy (ME) for TMR1 and TMR2 (P < 0.05), while the digestibility of nutrients was not altered by the treatments (P ≥ 0.05). Ground corn cobs was used for up to 100% of the total roughage without affecting milk production. Moreover, ruminal pH, temperature, ammonia-nitrogen (NH3N) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were not impacted by the treatments (P > 0.05). However, milk yield was significantly different among the GCC:RS ratios (P < 0.05) and was the highest in TMR1 and TMR2 (13.1 kg/d), while the milk compositions were not changed (P > 0.05). The results imply that using GCC as a whole roughage source significantly improved nutrients intake and milk yield in dairy cows raised in tropical areas.