‘Feeding cows with sugar cane increases milk production’

Various studies have indicated that sugar cane and its by-products can significantly increase the milk yield in cows. Farmers in other countries have been exploiting the potentials in sugar cane to enhance productivity in their animals using it as feeds. In  Kenya, a farmer in Toronik, Chepalungu Sub-county, Bomet County who  feeds his dairy cows […]

Various studies have indicated that sugar cane and its by-products can significantly increase the milk yield in cows.
Farmers in other countries have been exploiting the potentials in sugar cane to enhance productivity in their animals using it as feeds.
In  Kenya, a farmer in Toronik, Chepalungu Sub-county, Bomet County who  feeds his dairy cows during the draught period with sugar cane increases the quantity of milk production in his farm, adding that “I have also noticed it boosts my cows’ milk production,” reports the  Kenya Business World Opinion, an online platform for showcasing agro technologies.
Dr Edgar Amos Sunday, the National President, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (VCN), said there are two possibilities for using sugar cane.
He stated that the molasses and bagasse which are by-products from normal sugar production, which together can amount to some three and 12 tonnes respectively from one hectare of a good sugarcane crop is found to be good for feeding cows and increases milk production in dairy farms.
Dr Sunday stressed that the by-products from the processed sugarcane can increase milk production because of the molasses that are found in it.
The Food Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has published several studies by researchers, which confirm that sugar cane and its products can help dairy farmers increase milk production.
Some farmers in countries like Jamaica also feed their animals without extracting sugar from the cane.
Feeding studies suggest that sugars can increase the extent of ruminal fermentation of fiber if rumen degradable protein supplementation is adequate.
Lactation studies have suggested that supplementation with sucrose substituted for starch or corn can increase intake, milk yield, and milk fat yield, but the results are mixed.