Management and Rural Development Effect of feed supplementation on the performance of nomadic dairy cows in rangeland of

Abstract Tow experiments were carried out with Dar El-Reih cows of northern Kordofan (Sudan). Records were kept for daily milk production and body weight, body condition score and progesterone profile. The cows that recently calved were monitored for the first and sustained progesterone (P4) rise to assess the interval from calving to ovulation and conception. In the first experiment 36 cows were selected from the nomadic herd and divided into three groups. Group A was supplemented with a high energy high protein concentrate mixture (ration A) and group B received a medium energy medium protein concentrate mixture (ration B), while group C received a low energy low proteins concentrate mixture (ration C). The cows were at their early lactation and were for six weeks at the rate 2 kg/cow/day after grazing. The results indicated that group A cows had a significantly higher milk yield (P<0.05) than group B or group C cows, and group C cows had lowest milk yield of all the all groups, Group A had also attained the highest body weight and body condition . In the second experiment, three trials were conducted to study the effect of molasses supplementation on milk yield in comparison with the conventional concentrate feed ingredients used in the region. In each trial 12 cows were selected and were divided into two experimental groups. One group designed as a test group and the other as a control group. In each trial the test ration contained molasses, replacing grain sorghum, or sorghum brewery residue, the results revealed significant differences in milk yield between the test and control groups