A research group led by Associate Professor Kondo Makoto of the Graduate School of Bioresources at Mie University (Tsu City, Mie Prefecture), and members of Aichi Prefectural Agricultural College and Kankyo Texis Co., Ltd., fed scraps of castella cake to dairy cows and found that the milk yield and milk composition were comparable to imported corn.
According to Mie University, about 11% of castella production is leftovers that cannot be sold. The research group fed 7 lactating Holstein dairy cows a diet containing 42% castella scraps and other ingredients for XNUMX days, and compared the results with a diet fed only corn and other grains.
The results showed no significant differences in milk yield, milk fat or protein content, or milk fatty acid composition. There were no changes in fecal pH (hydrogen ion index) or the amount of protein synthesized by microorganisms in the rumen, and the amount of fiber digestion was significantly improved.
As the global demand for grains increases, it becomes more difficult to maintain a stable supply and price of dairy cow feed. In Japan, a shortage of rice for human consumption is expected to lead to a significant drop in rice production for feed. Therefore, we investigated whether castella cake scraps, which are rich in sugar and starch, could be used as dairy cow feed.
The research group believes that using food by-products as feed will not only reduce food waste, but also lower feed costs and ensure a stable supply of milk. In the future, they will conduct longer-term verification tests with a view to practical application, and will also continue to study the long-term effects of using food by-products as feed on the health and productivity of dairy cows.
In addition, by combining the university's scientific research with the agricultural college's on-site practice and collaborating with companies to participate in practical problem-solving, students will acquire knowledge and skills, strengthen ties with local industries, and contribute to improving the quality of education and developing human resources.
Paper information: [Animal Science Journal] Partial substitution of cereal grains with sugar-rich castella byproduct on nutrient digestibility and lactation performance of dairy cows
