Browsing by Author "Weerasinghe, W.M.P.B."

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    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
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    Effects of Supplementation of Nitrogen through Urea Molasses Multinutrient Block (UMMB) on the Performance of dairy Cows Fed with Good Quality Forage Based Diets While Using Rice Straw as Night Feeding
    (Uva Wellassa University of Srilanka, 2011) Jayawickrama, D.R.; Mudannayake, D.C.; Jayasena, D.K.D.D.; Weerasinghe, W.M.P.B.
    Note: See the PDF Version In Sri Lanka, the dairy industry is not well developed but has huge potential for the development. Among the constraints faced by the dairy industry, poor nutrition status of the animals has been identified as a major obstacle for the development of dairy industry in Sri Lanka. In general, animals are fed with poor quality roughages and concentrate feeding is very limiting thus, animal's genetic potential for the milk production has not been 'achieved in many cases. Poor quality roughages contain very little energy and protein, which is responsible for the lower production. Several methods have been reported in Sri Lanka to improve the nutritive value of low quality roughages. Among those, UMMB feeding is one of the easier methods. Hard solid blocks of UMMB provide readily available sources of energy and protein in the form of molasses and urea together with fiber and minerals (Saddul and Boodoo, 2001). Urea-molasses mineral block (UMMB) licks can improve the utilization of low, quality roughages by satisfying the requirement of the rumen microorganisms, creating a better environment for the fermentation of fibrous material and increasing production of microbial protein and volatile fatty acids (Wongnen, 2007). Urea, after hydrolyzing into ammonia in the rumen, provides a nitrogen source for the rumen microflora for their microbial protein synthesis. Molasses is a source of readily fermentable energy (Wongnen, 2007), which assists the growth of rumen microorganisms. It has been shown that animal performance has improved tremendously after the introduction of UMMB under field conditions (Kunju, 1986). This improvement was attributed to "supplementary" and "catalytic" effects of UMMB, as UMMB promotes an optimal ammonia level for efficient microbial activity in the rumen (Kunju, 1986). Several researchers have previously reported on the use of UMMB licks for supplementing the crop residue-based diet of large and small ruminants (Leng, 1983; Sansoucy, 1995) but very few studies have been conducted on the use of UMMB with good quality forage-based diets. Results of one such study by Weerasinghe et al. (2010) to evaluate the effects of supplementation of nitrogen through UMMB on the performance of dairy cows fed with good quality forage based diets, highlighted that UMMB supplementation significantly increased milk yield and yields of milk fat, protein, and SNF and UMMB supplemented animals had a significantly higher body weight than those fed with control diets; it suggests that the improvement of production and performance could be due to improved digestibility of the basal diet. However, no information available on the use of straw as night feeding to replace the amount of grass supplied in the day time. Thus, the objective of this study was to 137 Proceedings of lite Research Symposium of Uva Wellassa University, December 15-16, 2011 Evaluate the effects of supplementation of UMMB to dairy cows fed with good quality forage based diets while supplying rice straw as night feeding.
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    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