EFFECTS OF FORMS OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) GRAIN ON BIOMASS YIELD, NUTRITIVE VALUE, MILK PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF DAIRY COWS

A survey and other three interrelated trials were conducted on the objective of selecting the best maize form that would substitute brewery grain in crossbred (Fogera and Holstein Friesian) dairy cows ration. In the survey (paper I) a cross-sectional single visit multi-purpose design was used to assess farmers’ perception, and available practices for hydroponic fodder production. In paper II and III, a 4 x 3 factorial experiment (four maize varieties with three seed rates) in a Complete Randomized Block Design was used to evaluate the effect of varieties (BH540,BH660, BH661,MVFG) and seed rate (5.6, 7.6 and 9.6kg m-2) on hydroponic maize fodder biomass yield, chemical composition, and water use efficiency; in paper IV, the three forms (i.e. the grain, malt and hydroponic fodder) of the selected variety of maize and seed rate were compared for their in vitro Digestibility, in Sacco degradability and enrgy contents in a completely randomized design; and in paper V, a double 5 x 5 crossover design (five treatment diets and five experimental periods) were used to evaluate the effect of different forms of maize (the grain, malt and hydroponic fodder) versus brewery grain supplementation on yield, composition and economy of milk production. The survey was conducted in Gondar, Mekele, and Tachi-Gayint whereas the experiments were at University of Gondar-Atse Tewodros campus. Results of the survey (Paper I) showed that feed, milk market, space, and artificial insemination service unreliability were the top four problems of dairy farming. Among coping strategies to feed scarcity, purchasing additional feed was the first measure employed. Out of the total 436 dairy cattle owners in the study area, 30 (6.9%) (P