THE EFFECTS OF UTILIZATION OF DRY LICORICE ON MILK PRODUCTION AND COMPOSITION OF LACTATING HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN COWS

Six Holstein-Friesian lactating cows were used in an experiment to study the effects of three different levels of licorice pulp in the ration in the yield and composition of milk. Using 3x3 Latin square design the cows were divided into three groups of two each cows. On the basis of nutritive requirements the three different croups of cows were fed three different concentrates containing 0%, 15% and 20% licorice pulp respectively, while alfalfa hay was offered ad - libitun to all cows during the whole experimental 12 week period samples of milk and feeds were then daily and blood samples at the end of each of three experimental stages and saved for chemical analysis. The results showed that addition of licorice pulp in the ration decreased milk production, but the differences among the three rations were not statistically significant. The milk yield was 19.49, 17.97 and 16.49 Kg/day for the rations containing 0%, 15% and 20% licorice pulp respectively. There were no significant differences among milk components due to licorice pulp in the ration. The milk content of fat was 2.23, 2.45 and 2.55% and content of protein 3.57, 3.77 and 4.10% and content of lactose 4.40, 4.25 and 4.08% for the ration 0%, 15% and 20% licorice pulp respectively. The blood sample analysis showed increment of blood components studied in cows blood due to licorice level in the ration. The mean blood glucose was 56.3, 62.8 and 65.0 mg/100ml, blood hemoglobin 10.0, 10.9 and 11.0 mg/ml and the packed cell volume 23.7, 25.3 and 26.1% for the rations 0%, 15% and 20% respectively. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in blood glucose and packed cell volume between ration 0%, and 20% licorice pulp.