Milk production analysis after supplementing Calotropis gigantea leaf silage to dairy cows

This study aimed at evaluating the milk production after supplementing Calotropis gigantea(Giant milkweed,GM)silage as a new functional feed additive for ruminants.Cows refused to eat GM plants so,we processed it into silage before feeding.After ensiling,six ruminally cannulated dairy cows were assigned to two treatment groups(GM silage supplementation treatment and control without GM silage supplementation)in a cross over design.Repeated sampling of milk and rumen fluid was carried out on the last days of the third and fourth week after treatment.Ensiling GM increased the crude proteins,neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber while ash was unchanged.There was no dry matter intake(DMI)when supplementing GM forage to the cows,DMI and milk yield returned to normal conditions but feed efficiency,milk protein,milk fat and lactose slightly increased when supplementing GM silage.Rumen protozoa genera such as Entodinium,Ophryoscolex,Eudiplodinium,Dasytricha and Isotricha were maintained.A dose effect study remained to be carried out to identify an effective dose that could bring significant enhancement of the animal production after supplementing GM silage.This study revealed that the silage form of GM can be a new source of proteins for dairy cows and an appropriate dose could potentially induce some improvement of the milk production and composition.Therefore,the plant will not continue to be perceived as an invasive weed but as a new forage to be integrated into the cow’s diet.

From Ghana to the dry-hot valleys of China:assessing factors influencing fruit yield in agroforestry species Vitellaria paradoxa after 54 years of cultivation outside Africa

Although distributed across the Sudano-Sahelian region as an agroforestry system tree species,Vitellaria paradoxa has yet to be reported as successfully established outside of Africa,significantly limiting its yield and further exploitation.In this paper,in order to assess a well-established population of V.paradoxa in the Yuanjiang dry-hot valley of China and examine the relationships between morphological-geological factors and fruit yield,we monitored dendrometric traits and fruiting across 844 shea trees located on different aspects,and applied partial least square regression to build a yield model based on dendrometric and geographical variables.Results revealed climatic resemblance of the introduction site in Yuanjiang to the natural habitat in Ghana,and the growth performance and fruit yield were also comparable,but accumulated precipitation of about 600 mm was better for fruit yield when heat accumulation reached about 2,000.Apart from crown diameter(p<0.05),dendrometric parameters(basal diameter,basal area and tree height)had positively weak relationships with fruit yield.On the contrary,aside from north and northeast aspect,other aspects showed a strong negative influence.The findings presented that growth and productivity of V.paradoxa increased with dendrometric parameters and monthly average temperature on shady and semi-shady slope,providing a theoretical basis for the development of shea tree and construction of agroforestry system in dry tropical areas outside Africa.