Table 2.
Effects of dietary crude protein levels on DMI, feed conversion rate, milk protein synthesis efficiency, milk yield, content and yield of milk components of lactating donkeys.
| Items | HP | MP | LP | SEM | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMI (kg/day) | 7.38 | 7.39 | 7.49 | 0.163 | 0.862 |
| Milking yield (kg/day) | 0.85 a | 0.82 a | 0.70 b | 0.016 | <0.0001 |
| EMY (kg/day) | 3.41 a | 3.27 a | 2.80 b | 0.064 | <0.0001 |
| ECM (kg/day) | 1.73 a | 1.65 a | 1.39 b | 0.041 | <0.0001 |
| SCM (kg/day) | 1.84 a | 1.73 a | 1.50 b | 0.043 | <0.0001 |
| EMY/DMI | 0.46 a | 0.44 a | 0.37 b | 0.010 | <0.0001 |
| SCM/DMI | 025 a | 0.24 a | 0.20 b | 0.006 | <0.0001 |
| ECM/DMI | 0.23 a | 0.22 a | 0.19 b | 0.006 | <0.0001 |
| Milk protein synthesis efficiency | 0.059 a | 0.061 a | 0.054 b | 0.0014 | 0.003 |
| Milk components | |||||
| Fat (%) | 0.28 | 0.27 | 0.25 | 0.012 | 0.146 |
| Protein (%) | 1.89 a | 1.87 a | 1.82 b | 0.010 | <0.0001 |
| Lactose (%) | 7.11 | 7.08 | 7.07 | 0.016 | 0.256 |
| SNF (%) | 8.94 | 8.93 | 8.89 | 0.017 | 0.079 |
| TS (%) | 9.20 a | 9.18 a | 9.13 b | 0.018 | 0.013 |
| MUN (mg/dL) | 41.06 a | 39.89 a | 33.98 b | 1.253 | 0.039 |
| Milk component yield | |||||
| Fat (g/day) | 9.58 a | 8.83 ab | 6.98 b | 0.580 | <0.0001 |
| Protein (g/day) | 64.44 a | 60.84 a | 50.93 b | 1.500 | <0.0001 |
| Lactose (g/day) | 243.34 a | 232.27 a | 197.29 b | 5.415 | <0.0001 |
| SNF (g/day) | 304.53 a | 291.50 a | 247.78 b | 6.746 | <0.0001 |
| TS (g/day) | 313.54 a | 299.68 a | 254.91 b | 7.201 | <0.0001 |
HP, high crude protein; MP, medium crude protein; LP, low crude protein; SEM = standard error of least square means; a, b means within the same row not followed by the same letters are significantly different at p < 0.05.