Effects of Alfalfa at Different Levels on Production Performance and Economic Benefit of Cows

A total of 40 Holstein cows were selected from cow breeding areas in Cangzhou City of Hebei Province.They had similar body weight,milk yield and parity as well as close lactation period.These cows were randomly assigned to four groups.The cows in control group were fed with straw and concentrate.The cows in the other three experimental groups were fed with diets added alfalfa hay at different levels.The production performance and economic benefit of cows were analyzed.The results showed that the milk yield,milk protein content and non-fat milk solid content were significantly higher in the cows of the experimental groups than in those of the control group (P 0.01),but the fat percentage and somatic cell count were lower in the former than in the latter (fat percentage,P 0.05;somatic cell count,P 0.05).Therefore,alfalfa improved milk quality.Economic benefit analysis showed that diets containing alfalfa greatly increased the overall efficiency of cultivation,breeding and processing.