Development of smallholder dairy units in Malaysia.
In experiments conducted over a four-year period the effect of pasture type (Setaria sphacelata and a Brachiaria decumbens/Leucaena leucocephala mixture), management system (rotational grazing and cut and carry) and level of concentrate supplement (0, 4 and 6 kg fresh weight/cow per day) on milk production in smallholder dairy units was examined. All units were 1 ha in size and stocked with five Sahiwal X Friesian cows. Milk yields/ha were higher from rotational grazing and the brachiaria/leucaena pasture when compared with the cut and carry system and the setaria pasture respectively. In subsequent experiments smallholder units were based on brachiaria/leucaena and rotational grazing. A supplement of 4 kg fresh weight of concentrate (11 MJ/kg DM and 150 g/kg DM CP) increased milk yield/ha from 7,760 to 13,045 kg while in a third trial milk yield/ha was further increased from 14,148 to 16,760 kg when concentrate level was raised from 4 to 6 kg fresh weight/day. The results indicate that smallholder dairy units in Malaysia could be economically viable and competitive with other agricultural enterprises such as rubber and oil palm.
Wan Hassan
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WE
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Serdang, Selangor.
Phipps
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RH
Owen
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E
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D003612:Dairying; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D008296:Malaysia; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation