EFFECT OF PROBIOTICS IN FERMENTED PALM KERNEL MEAL (FPKM) AND TOTAL MIXED RATION (TMR) TO IMPROVE MILK PRODUCTION IN MAFRIWAL DAIRY CATTLE OF MALAYSIA VETERINARY INSTITUTE (IVM) FARM

SABARIAH B.*, NORFADZRIN F., MOHAMAD NOOR I., ASWANIMIYUNI A., HARYANI H., AHMAD MALIKE H. AND SAIFUL ADLI A.H.

SABARIAH B.*, NORFADZRIN F., MOHAMAD NOOR I., ASWANIMIYUNI A., HARYANI H., AHMAD MALIKE H. AND SAIFUL ADLI A.H.

A preliminary study on the effect of probiotics in fermented palm kernel meal (FPKM) and total mixed ration (TMR) to improve milk production in dairy cattle was carried out. TMR feeding enhances feed intake, improves the ecology of the rumen leading to stimulated microbial activity to digest more feed, and then finally increases productivity of the cows. Probiotics of Bacillus spp. was given through concentrate after a fermentation process for three days. The trial was carried out at the Dairy Unit, Veterinary Institute, Kluang, Johore. Twenty Mafriwal cows with low milk production were selected and divided into two equivalent groups. Each group consisted of 10 cows. Group A were fed with TMR. Group B received TMR and 100 grams per head/day FPKM (FPKM, probiotics Bacillus spp. and mollases). The cows were given TMR daily which consisted of 20 kg per head of fresh Napier grass, 5 kg per head palm kernel meal, 1 kg per head soya bean meal, 1 kg per head corn, 0.5 kg per head molasses and 0.5 kg per head of enalac. Feeding trial period was carried out for four weeks. Feed was given twice a day, morning and late afternoon, meanwhile water was given adlibitum. Animals were given the same diet for seven days for an adaptation period. Milk was sampled twice a day for four weeks and were recorded accordingly. The average of daily and weekly milk production were calculated. The animals from Group B showed an improvement of milk production before trial to the fourth week from 5.2 litres/head/day to 6.99 litres/head/day i.e. 14.80% to 34.44% as compared to Group A.