Feeding Management, Feed Chemical Composition, Milk Yield, and Milk Composition in Dairy Farms, Phatthalung Province
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Abstract
This study aimed to investigate feeding management, determine the chemical composition of feedstuffs, and evaluate milk yield and composition in 102 dairy farms in Phatthalung Province, Thailand. Farms were classified according to total herd size as small (≤37 cattle; 40 farms), medium (38–40 cattle; 30 farms), or large (≥41 cattle; 32 farms). Farm-level data were collected through interviews and farm records. Feed and bulk-tank milk samples were collected from four areas. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, followed by Duncan’s multiple range test. Most farms used fresh grass as the primary roughage source (85.29%) and practiced group concentrate feeding (80.39%). Average milk yields did not differ among small, medium, and large farms, ranging from 13.35 to 13.69 kg/cow/day (P=0.929). Small farms provided more concentrate than medium and large farms (P<0.001), whereas large farms had a higher mean number of cows affected by mastitis (P<0.001). Concentrates had the highest crude protein concentration (17.04% of dry matter), while by-products contained the highest neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and acid detergent lignin concentrations. Farm location did not affect milk fat, protein, or solids-not-fat concentrations (P>0.05), but significantly affected lactose concentration (P=0.008). The solids-not-fat concentrations across all areas were below the reference value of 8.25%. These findings emphasize the need for dry matter-based feed analysis and ration formulation, production-based feeding, appropriate nutrient supplementation when using high-fiber by-products, and effective mastitis control to improve production efficiency and milk quality.
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