Browsing by Author "Mahipala, M.B.P.K."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    A Case Study : Factors Affecting on Milk Production of Contract Farmers’ of the Swiss Cheese Company Private Limited in Nuwara-eliya District
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2010) Rifky, A.L.M.; Samaraweera, A.M.; Jayasinghe, J.V.L.C.; Mahipala, M.B.P.K.
    This study investigated the factors affecting on milk production of the contract dairy cattle farmers' of Swiss Cheese Company Pvt. Ltd. in Nuwara-eliya district. A field survey was carried out using 50 farmers in Queensberry, Bogahawatta, Maskeliya, Kellewatta and Rozella villages. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used. The investigated farmers were virtually landless and farming is done in extremely small (118±8.7 m2) block of land, in most cases owned by commercial tea plantations. Herd size was found to be 2.26±0.18 with low number of lactating cows (1.0±0.12). Although, almost all cattle farmers practice stall feeding (96%), majority of them (68%) depend entirely on naturally grown low quality, mix weeds. The roughage and concentrate offered were 47.8±4.35 and 1.1±0.09 kg/cow/d, respectively. Although, the temperate cross bred dairy cows managed were at their 4±0.4th parity, the milk production was found to be considerably low (6.7±0.78 L/cow and 9.2±1.14 L/herd). Age at first calving was 34±0.2 and the calving interval was 14±0.2 in months. Cost benefit analysis showed that the B/C ratio (per herd) was 2.36±0.359, thus the farmers gain profits from cattle keeping. The regression analysis reviled that calving interval, percentage lactating cows, expenditure, on concentrate, Al, veterinary service and the amount of roughage offered are the factors that significantly (P<0.05) affect on herd milk production. Farmers' knowledge in cattle keeping was found to be significantly low possibly due to low level of formal education. According to perception of farmers', lack of capital for improve housing facilities, unavailability of forage source, low milk productivity of cattle and low farm-gate milk price were identified as constraints in cattle farming in the studied area. Herd milk production from contract farmers could be improved by introduction of better feeding (i.e. concentrate and roughage) strategies. Key words: Cattle, Milk production, Feeding, Calving interval, Expenditure
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Effect of farming system on energy balance of temperate crossbred dairy cows in early lactation: A case study conducted at Welimada Veterinary Division
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) Piyathissa, W.N.B.A.; Mahipala, M.B.P.K.; Weerasinghe, W.M.P.B.; Kasthuriarachchi, S.; Gamage, S.; Ranaweera, K.K.T.N.
    The early lactation period of dairy cows in Sri Lanka has been identified with negative energy balance (NEB) due to improper feeding strategies. Hence, the objective of the current study was to evaluate the energy balance of temperate crossbred dairy cows in early lactation reared under two management systems (stallfed and tethered) at Welimada Veterinary Division. Forty dairy cows in early lactation were selected for the study (stallfed, n=20, and tethered, n=20). The energy balance was evaluated using a serum metabolic profile. Blood samples collected (between 0900 to 1030 hrs.) from each cow were analysed for serum Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) contents and values were compared with reference ranges. Milk production, parity, days in milk (DIM), and amount of concentrate fed were recorded. The average DIM was recorded as 30.75 days. The NEFA content of cows in both systems (0.30±0.05 vs. 0.39±0.07 mmol L-1 ) was below the upper critical limit of the reference range and no significant difference (p>0.05) was observed between systems. Yet, the BHBA content of cows in the tethered system was significantly higher (p<0.05) than its counterpart (0.81±0.22 vs. 0.35±0.06 mmol L-1 ) and it was close to the upper critical limit (0.854 mmol L-1 ). Higher BHBA contents indicate NEB conditions during early lactation. The number of concentrates fed to stall-fed cows was observed to be significantly higher (p<0.05) than its counterpart (13.64±0.42 vs. 4.46±0.29 kg/cow/d). Similarly, stallfed cows indicated higher (p<0.05) milk production (19.88±0.26 vs. 6.93±0.40 L/cow/d). Results revealed that only the tethered cows were affected with NEB status. The reasons for low milk production and NEB in tethered cows could be due to lack of energy intake which was indicated by the low amount of concentrate fed. Further research is warranted to identify methods for increasing the energy intake of tethered dairy cows at early lactation while considering the socioeconomics of the farming system. Keywords: Beta-hydroxybutyrate, Milk production, Non-esterified fatty acids, Stallfed, tethered
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Rumen Protected Fat Preparation using By-products Generated in Coconut Processing Industry
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) De Silva, S.M.H.H.; Abeyrathne, E.D.N.S.; Weerasinghe, W.M.P.B.; Mahipala, M.B.P.K.; Ranaweera, K.K.T.N.
    Rumen protected fat (RPF) is an energy supplement used in dairy cattle feeding. Yet, none of the studies were conducted in manufacturing RPF in Sri Lanka. Hence, the present study was conducted to optimize the fusion method of preparing RPF using byproducts generated in the coconut processing industry in Sri Lanka. Amongst 03 byproducts generated (i.e. sludge oil, low-fat coconut residue oil, and paring oil), paring oil was selected as the suitable fat source for preparing RPF due to its favourable physiochemical properties and ease of extraction. The fatty acid profile of the paring oil was determined using Gas Chromatography (GC). For producing RPF using fusion method, paring oil was mixed with CaO (aq) and heated using direct heat. In the experiment, RPF samples were prepared using CaO percentage in the range of 11%-14% with the time, temperature combinations ranging 10 – 120 minutes, and 150 – 300 °C, respectively. The best time, temperature, and CaO% were finalized as 30 minutes, 250 °C, and 13.5%, respectively. The crude fat content, ash content, and pH of the final product was assessed. The stability of the final product in the rumen was assessed by comparing it with a commercial RPF using in vitro gas production technique. According to GC results, Lauric acid was identified as the highest available fatty acid in paring oil. The crude fat and crude ash content of the final product was 77.77 ± 0.32% and 22.16 ± 0.37%, respectively. As confirmed by the in vitro gas production technique, rumenprotected fat produced from paring oil and commercial rumen-protected fat had indicated similar stability under in vitro rumen conditions. The final product showed no significant difference (p<0.05) in pH up to 5 weeks. The current method yielded 1.11 kg of rumenprotected fat from 1 kg of paring oil. Considering the above results, the current process was identified as a successful method of preparing rumen-protected fat using paring oil generated. Key words: CaO, Coconut processing industry, Fatty acids, Fusion method, Paring oil