Objective

:To evaluate two supplements elaborated with Saccharum officinarum L. bagasse, molasses and two levels of urea, on the milk production and quality of first-parturition cows in Nariño, Colombia.

Materials and Methods

: Six first-parturition F1 cows (Kiwi Cross x Holstein) were used, in a replicated Latin square design. Three treatments were established: T0) control, only grazing; T1) grazing plus supplement 1 and T2) grazing plus supplement 2. The dry matter intake, milk production, fat production, protein production, production of total solids, fat percentage and protein percentage, percentage of total solids, as well as milk ureic nitrogen, were estimated. The information was processed through a variance analysis and Tukey’s mean comparison test.

Results

: There was effect of supplementation on the variables dry matter intake, milk production, production of total solids (p < 0,05), where T1 and T2 showed the best averages, with values of 14 and 14,7 kg/day for dry matter intake; 9,1 and 9,0 kg/cow/day for milk production and 1 356,9 and 1 359,8 g/cow/day for the production of total solids, respectively. Likewise, there were differences in the variable milk ureic nitrogen, where T1 had value of 14,3 mg/dL, with regards to T0 and T2, which reached 16,3 and 16,7 mg/dL, respectively.

Conclusions

: The S. officinarum byproducts, with adequate urea inclusion levels, can improve the contribution of nutrients and, thus, the productive parameters in lactating cows. Yet, T1 showed the best averages in milk production and quality and the lowest content of milk ureic nitrogen.

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