Abera Teshome Aleli
A study was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of ground nut cake (GNC) with concentrate feeds on milk yield and its economic feasibility. Changeover design was used in three periods each comprising 25 days plus the first seven days for adaptation and ten days for wash out of residual effect between consecutive periods. Treatment diet was ground nut cake (GNC) while soya bean meal (SBM) was used as control levelled at a ratio of 0 GNC: 100 SBM (T1), 50 GNC: 50 SBM (T2) and 100 GNC: 0 SBM (T3). The concentrate diets were maize, wheat bran, minerals and vitamin premix while basal diets grass hay and corn silage were fed ad libitum. Data were analysed using the General Linear Models procedure of SAS. Daily milk yield was higher (P<0.05) for T3 (18.71 l/d) and T2 (18.17 l/d) as compared to T1 (17.96 l/d). Milk yield differed (P<0.05) between treatments with stages of lactation. Economic analysis showed the highest net return for T3 and thelowest from T2. In general, Replacement of ground nut cake for soybean meal improved milk yield and economic return.