Supplementing dairy feed by dicalcium phosphate and effect on dry matter intake, digestibility, milk composition, and blood mineral balances in crossbred dairy cows

The present study was conducted to assess if Dicalcium Phosphate 18% (DCP) supplementation in dairy feed would affect dry matter intake, milk composition, blood mineral balance and milk production in lactating crossbred Dairy Cows). A 4 × 4 double change-over design set as Latin Squares was used to do feeding and digestibility trials. DCP was supplemented at different levels 0; 0.3; 0.6; 0.9% DM/day of DCP for which the experimental groups was respectively designated as T0, T1, T2, T3, The effect of DCP supplementation on parameters of interest was evaluated using blood serum, milk, feed and feed refusals samples. The present study revealed that supplementation of DCP with the concentrate mix improved mean dry matter intake (11.46; 12.81; 14.59, and 15.68 kg DM/d) for T0, T1, T2, T3, respectively, and digestibility of nutrients in lactating dairy cows compared to the controls. Likewise, DCP supplementation improved milk production and composition except solids not fat (SNF) composition. Serum calcium (Ca) composition was significantly in supplemented group (p<0.05). DCP supplementation significantly improved (p<0.05) total Ca intake, Ca in milk, Ca in feces, total Ca excretion. Optimum dairy cow production and productivity was achieved at 0.6% DM/day of DCP supplementation. However, the current results need to be confirmed using large number of lactating dairy animals.