Evaluation of the Rice pelvimeter for measuring pelvic area in double muscled Belgian Blue cows

The accuracy of the Rice pelvimeter for measuring pelvic area of double muscled Belgian Blue (BB) cattle was investigated by comparing measurements in the live animal with these obtained from the same animal after slaughter. Pelvic measurements from 466 BB-cows aged 2–10 years old and of an excellent carcass qualification (S and E in the SEUROP classification) were measured with the pelvimeter approximately 12 h prior to, and by graded ruler within 2 h after, slaughter. The mean difference of measurements between living and dead cattle were − 0.2 cm for pelvic width (95% limits of agreement − 2.5–2.1 cm), and 1.2 cm for pelvic height (95% limits of agreement − 1.8–4.1 cm). The correlation coefficient between all pelvic measurements was between 0.46 and 0.59 (p < 0.001). The age of the animals influenced only pelvic height whilst carcass weight influenced all the components of the pelvic area. There was a significant correlation between the pelvimetric measurements of the birth canal in living cattle obtained using a Rice pelvimeter compared to actual measurements obtained from the carcass. The Rice pelvimeter is a suitable tool for assessing accurate pelvic skeletal conformation and to select animals in this breed with a larger birth canal and hence less dystocia problems.     

比利时蓝白花肉牛重复超排试验

为探讨多次重复超排的效果,自2002年10月至2004年10月对9头比利时蓝白花供体肉牛共进行8次重复超排。结果累计生产可用胚胎349枚,平均每头次5.5枚。每批获可用胚胎数依次为38、45、37、42、55、50、43、39枚,可用胚数并未随超排次数的增加而呈现逐渐下降趋势,说明比利时蓝白花肉牛以3个月的间隔连续8次重复超排是可行的。     

Estimation of phenotypic and genetic parameters for weight gain and weight at fixed ages in the double-muscled Belgian Blue Beef breed using field records

In the double‐muscled Belgian Blue beef (DM‐BBB) breed, selection focuses on muscular conformation and not on weight gain and higher weight. There are very few studies on growth in the DM‐BBB using field records. Therefore, farms have no available useful figures on weight at fixed ages and weight gain for the DM‐BBB. This study describes and evaluates live weights of DM‐BBB animals. All the data were gathered on farms in Belgium. It was found that a male DM‐BBB weighs an average of 51 kg at birth, 98 kg at 3 months, 242 kg at 7 months, 430 kg at 13 months and 627 kg at 20 months. Between the age of 7 and 20 months, weight gain is more than 1200 g a day. Females weigh 47 kg at birth, 96 kg at 3 months, 189 kg at 7 months and 332 kg at 13 months. For males, estimates of heritability for weights at 7, 13 and 20 months were between 0.21 and 0.36. The heritability for weight gain between 13 and 20 months was 0.13. This demonstrates that it is possible to select for higher weights and for increased growth between 13 and 20 months. Animals having high weights at a young age (7 and 13 months) tend to have also high weight at slaughtering age (20 months; r_g between 0.81 and 0.98), but no additional growth between 13 and 20 months (r_g between −0.09 and 0.00). High weight at 20 months is partially due to growth between 13 and 20 months (r_g = 0.49).     

Live weight assessment based on easily accessible morphometric characteristics in the double-muscled Belgian Blue beef breed

Live weight is an important trait in cattle farming. Weighing is not always feasible and therefore live weight is often estimated from easily accessible data. In this study, data on live weight, age and gender, and four body measurements, withers height (WH), heart girth (HG) and width of the shoulders (SW) and hind quarters (BcW) of double-muscled Belgian Blue beef (DM-BBB) farm animals were used to develop multivariable non-linear and linear regression models that predict live weight from these easily accessible data. The relationship between the logarithm of the live weight and the logarithm of time is adequately described by a general logistic function. The age period from 100 to 600 days of age is contained in the linear part of the logistic function. This region is of particular economic interest because it contains the yearling age and slaughter age that are important in DM-BBB breeding and management. Adding one of the body traits in the linear models that contain age and gender as fixed effects decreases the coefficient of variation. A model with withers height and shoulder width has the lowest coefficient of variation, with no further significant improvement when adding either heart girth or width of the hind quarters.     

Milk selenium content and speciation in response to supranutritional selenium yeast supplementation in cows

The effects of selenium (Se) yeast supplementation on performance, blood biochemical and antioxidant parameters, and milk Se content and speciation were evaluated. Thirty-six mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: 1) control (basal diet containing Se at 0.11 mg/kg DM), 2) basal diet + 0.5 mg supplemental Se/kg DM (SY-0.5), and 3) basal diet + 5 mg supplemental Se/kg DM (SY-5). Selenium was supplemented as Se yeast. The trial consisted of a 1-week pretrial period and an 8-week experimental period. Milk somatic cell score decreased with SY-5 supplementation (P < 0.05), but other performance parameters were not affected (P > 0.05). The serum Se concentration increased with the increasing levels of Se yeast supplementation (P < 0.05), however, blood biochemical parameters showed few treatment effects. The antioxidant capacity of dairy cows was improved with Se yeast supplementation reflected in increased serum glutathione peroxidase activity (P < 0.05) and total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.08), and decreased malondialdehyde concentration (P < 0.05). Milk total Se concentration increased with Se dose (P < 0.05). Also, the selenomethionine concentration increased with Se dose from 13.0 ± 0.7 μg/kg in control to 33.1 ± 2.1 μg/kg in SY-0.5 and 530.4 ± 17.5 μg/kg in SY-5 cows (P < 0.05). Similarly, selenocystine concentration increased from 15.6 ± 0.9 μg/kg in control and 18.9 ± 1.1 μg/kg in SY-0.5 to 22.2 ± 1.5 μg/kg in SY-5 cows (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Se yeast is a good organic Se source to produce Se-enriched cow milk with increased Se species including selenomethionine and selenocystine. The results can provide useful information on milk Se species when a high dose Se yeast was supplemented in the cow diet.     

母牛补饲维生素E和硒对新生犊牛生长和免疫的影响

本试验选择年龄、胎次、体况评分、顸产期相近的中国荷斯坦奶牛40头,随机分成2组,一组自由舔饲维生素E富硒舔砖,一组不补饲舔砖,研究维生素E(VE)和硒对新生犊牛生长和免疫的影响.试验期90 d,从预产前60 d到产后30 d.结果表明,试验组母牛血清中VE的含量在产后12 h显著高于对照组(P<0.05),血清中硒的含量在产前30 d和产后12 h高于对照组,差异极显著(P<0.01).试验组母牛分娩后12 h,血清中IgG、IgM的含量,初乳中IgM、IgG、IgA的含量都显著高于对照组(P<0.05).试验组犊牛出生后12 h,血清中VE和硒含量极显著高于对照组(P<0.01),IgG、IgA的含量高于对照组,差异显著(P<0.05).试验组犊牛初生体质量和体尺显著高于对照组(P<0.05),30日龄体质量和体尺高于对照组,差异极显著(P<0.01).试验组犊牛的发病率比对照组降低了50%.     

The influence of dietary selenium as selenium yeast or sodium selenite on the concentration of selenium in the milk of Suckler cows and on the selenium status of their calves

The aim of this trial was to determine whether the selenium status of suckling calves could be improved by supplementing their dams' diet with organic Se instead of sodium selenite. A herd of 103 Hereford cows, which were on grass paddocks all year round, was divided into two groups. Both groups had free access to a mineral supplement that contained 30 mg of Se/kg; for one group the source of the Se was a Se yeast product, and for the other group the source was sodium selenite. The basal feed contained .02 mg of Se/kg DM. During the trial, the mean daily consumption of the mineral supplement was approximately 110 g/cow. The calving season started in the middle of March and ended in the middle of May. Blood samples were taken from 11 cows and their calves in the yeast group and from nine in the selenite group at the end of April and again at the beginning of June, and milk samples were taken at the same times. At both samplings, the concentration of Se in whole blood and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the erythrocytes of the cows and calves in the yeast group were higher than in the samples from the animals in the selenite group. The same pattern was seen for plasma, except for the cows at the first sampling. The mean concentrations of Se in whole blood from calves in the yeast and selenite groups were 130 and 84 microg/L, respectively, and plasma concentrations were 48 and 34 microg/ L, respectively. Mean Se concentration in the milk from the yeast group (17.3 microg/L) was higher than that in milk from the selenite group (12.7 microg/L). There were significant correlations (r = .59 to .68) between the concentrations of Se in the cow's milk or cow's whole blood compared with Se concentrations in the calves whole blood and plasma or with the erythrocyte GSH-Px activity of the calves. The Se status of the calves in the selenite group was considered to be marginal, but the status of the calves in the yeast group was considered to be adequate. Supplementation of the suckler cows' diet with organic Se in the form of Se yeast rather than sodium selenite improved the Se status of their calves when the Se was mixed into a mineral supplement containing 30 mg of Se/kg. In practice, such supplementation would probably eliminate the risk of nutritional muscular degeneration in suckling calves.     

Ferrokinetic studies in normal and iron deficiency anemic calves.

Ferrokinetic studies were performed on control calves and on calves with experimentally induced iron deficiency anemia, all 15 weeks old.The plasma iron clearance half time was about 4 times shorter in the experimental than in the control group. The low plasma iron concentration in the anemic calves was partially compensated by a more rapid plasma iron disappearance. Therefore the difference in the plasma iron turnover rate was reduced.The mean value of plasma iron daily renewal rate was about 3 times higher in the experimental than in the control group.The maximum uptake of injected ⁵⁹Fe into blood cells was reached 14 to 16 days after injection. The uptake of ⁵⁹Fe was about 10% higher in the control than in the experimental group.Using the values from the ferrokinetic study, the iron need for calves could be estimated. The requirement of iron to maintain a normal and constant Hb in a calf weighing 100 kg at a growth rate of 1 kg/daily was estimated as being 17.5 mg/day. Based on information in the literature and assuming a retention of dietary Fe of 25%, the total daily iron need for such a calf gaining 1 kg/day would be 160–180 mg.     

Influence of selenium administration to dry cows on selected biochemical and immune parameters of their offspring

The study was performed on 16 Holstein‐Friesian calves divided into two groups of eight animals each. The first group was composed of calves whose mothers did not receive selenium supplements (Se0). The second group consisted of calves whose mothers were administered intramuscular injections of a selenium and vitamin E supplement containing 0.5 of sodium selenite/ml and 50 mg of tocopherol acetate/ml in a single dose of 30 ml (Se30) ml, 10 days before the expected parturition date (10 ± 2 days). The calves were fed 2.5 L of the mother's colostrum administered by stomach tube 2 hr after birth and another 2 L 6 hr after birth. Blood from all calves was collected 7 times from external jugular vein (day 0–before colostrum administration and on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 14th and 21st days of life) for analyses of selenium, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, lactoferrin, immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT) and lysozyme activity. Selenium concentration was significantly higher in calves whose mothers received selenium supplements than in the offspring of non‐supplemented cows until 72 hr after birth (p ≤ .05). Lysozyme and GGTP activity and IgG concentration were significantly higher in the S30 group during the entire experiment (p ≤ .05). Supplementation of selenium to the mothers did not influence the ceruloplasmin, lactoferrin and transferrin levels in calves. A single injection of a selenium supplement administered to cows during late pregnancy increases selenium levels in calves and enhances passive transfer from the mother to the offspring.     

Effects of supplemental protein sources during the grazing period on performance, ruminal characteristics and blood constituents in early weaned growing Wagyu steer calves

We investigated the effects of grazing and supplemental protein sources during the grazing period on growth performance, ruminal characteristics and blood constituents in 15 growing Wagyu steer calves weaned at 3 months of age. Each animal was allotted one of three treatments: (1) GSBM, soybean meal (SBM) supplemented as a protein source during a grazing period; (2) GCGM, corn gluten meal (CGM) supplemented as a protein source during a grazing period; or (3) NG, no grazing, in which steers were fed hay and GSBM concentrate only. The estimated rumen undegradable protein (RUP) concentration of CGM was higher than that of SBM. High RUP supplementation during the grazing period did not influence feed intake or growth performance. Compared with the NG treatment, the average daily gain in GSBM and GCGM calves was significantly depressed (P < 0.05). Bodyweight/withers height ratio in the NG calves tended to be greater than in the GSBM and GCGM calves. Final paunch girth/heart girth ratio in the GSBM and GCGM calves was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than in the NG calves. Supplementation with CGM did not influence ruminal ammonia nitrogen and blood constituents. These results indicate that CGM supplementation during the grazing period did not enhance the growth of Wagyu calves because the CGM diet probably did not elevate the metabolizable protein supply to the grazing calves above that of the SBM diet in our conditions.     

Breed differences in the pharmacokinetics of ivermectin administered subcutaneously to Holstein and Belgian Blue calves

Belgian Blue (BB) cattle are very sensitive to mange caused by Psoroptes ovis and, in contrast to the case in Holstein cattle, single treatments with ivermectin do not result in complete elimination of the parasite. The objective of the present study was to determine the concentration of ivermectin in plasma, skin and hair following subcutaneous administration to Holstein and BB calves and to assess the influence of breed on drug pharmacokinetics and availability. Two groups of six healthy female Holstein and BB calves were treated with ivermectin (SC formulation) at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg. Blood, skin and hair were collected before treatment and up to 21 days after treatment. Ivermectin was analyzed in plasma and tissue by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The peak concentrations (Cmax), time-peak concentrations (Tmax), the area under the plasma concentration-time curves (AUC) and the mean residence time (MRT) were determined. The patterns of plasma and tissue ivermectin concentrations were similar in the two breeds of animals, however, the AUC and Cmax levels for plasma and skin were significantly higher in the BB calves. In hair, ivermectin was detected later than in plasma and skin, with the Tmax ranging between 4 days (Holstein group) and 6 days (BB group). The possible reasons for the significantly higher levels in plasma and skin in BB calves compared to Holstein calves are discussed.     

Differences in copper and selenium metabolism between Angus (Bos taurus) and Brahman (Bos indicus) cattle

A 2-yr study was conducted at the Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida – Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) (Ona, FL), to evaluate differences in the metabolism of Cu and Se of Angus (Bos taurus) and Brahman (Bos indicus) cattle. Thirty-two pregnant beef cows (n = 8 Brahman and 8 Angus/yr) were enrolled in the study in the first trimester of gestation. This study consisted of three phases: 1) restriction (day 0 to 90), 2) supplementation (day 91 to 150), and 3) calving. During all three phases, cows were individually fed and housed in partially covered drylot pens. During the restriction and supplementation phases, cows were provided a 1.5 kg/d of a grain-based concentrate supplement, which was fortified with flowers of S (50 g of supplemental S/cow daily; restriction phase) or Cu and Se (100 and 3 mg/d of Cu and Se, respectively; supplementation phase). Blood and liver samples were collected from all cows at 30 d intervals and from both cows and calves within 24 h of calving. Colostrum and milk samples were collected at calving and 7 d after birth. All data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS, where cow and calf were the experimental unit. During the restriction phase, a breed × day effect (P = 0.03) was observed where Brahman had greater liver Cu concentration than Angus cows in all sampling days. For liver Se concentration, a tendency (P = 0.07) for a breed effect was observed where Angus cows tended to have greater liver Se concentration than Brahman. During the supplementation phase, breed (P < 0.001) and day (P < 0.01) effects were observed, where Brahman cows had greater liver Cu concentration than Angus. For liver Se concentration, a day effect (P < 0.001) was observed, where liver Se concentration increased (P < 0.001) from day 90 to 120 and remained unchanged (P = 0.86) until day 150. At calving, no effects of breed (P = 0.34) were observed for liver Cu concentration of cows; however, Brahman calves tended (P = 0.09) to have greater liver Cu concentration than Angus calves. For Se liver concentration at calving, Angus cows tended (P = 0.07) to have greater liver Se concentration than Brahman cows; however, no breed differences (P = 0.70) were observed for liver Se concentration of calves at birth. In summary, substantial differences in multiple indicators of Cu and Se status were observed between Angus and Brahman cattle, implying that Angus and Brahman cattle possibly have different mechanisms to maintain adequate Cu and Se status.     

Effects of bacterial organic selenium,selenium yeast and sodium selenite on antioxidant enzymes activity,serum biochemical parameters,and selenium concentration in Lohman brown-classic hens

Veterinary Research Communications - This study compares the effects of sodium selenite, selenium yeast, and enriched bacterial organic selenium protein on antioxidant enzyme activity, serum...     

Effect of parenteral administration of glutamine on autophagy of liver cell and immune responses in weaned calves

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of an increased jugular supply of L‐Gln on post‐weaning growth, immune responses, intestinal morphology and autophagy of weaned calves. At 35 days of age, 24 Holstein calves (initial 50 ± 1.5 kg; 35 ± 2 day of age) were randomly allocated to four treatments, and each treatment included five male and one female calves. Holstein calves were assigned to treatments of (i) i.v. infusion of 2 l of 0.85% NaCl, Control group [C]; (ii) i.v. infusion of 8 g/day of L‐Gln mixed with 2 l of 0.85% NaCl solution [L]; (iii) i.v. infusion of 16 g/day of L‐Gln mixed with 2 l of 0.85% NaCl solution [M]; and (iv) i.v. infusion of 32 g/day of L‐Gln mixed with 2 l of 0.85% NaCl [H]; The infusion was 2 h/day for each of 14 consecutive days starting on day 1 after weaning. Feed and water were freely available to all calves. All calves were killed on the 14th day post‐weaning for measurements of autophagy of liver cell and intestinal morphology. Gln has no effect on dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG). Gln infusion increased quadratically the abundance of CD4+, monocyte and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+. The urea N, Gln and Glucose in plasma increased linearly with increasing Gln loads. Gln infusion increased quadratically villus height and crypt depth of intestine. The autophagy level of liver cell was improved with the Gln infusion dose increased.     

动物铁、铜、锌、硒代谢及缺乏症研究新进展

微量元素铁、铜、锌、硒在动物生命活动中其中非常重要的作用,缺乏可导致动物患发一系列的病症。动物缺铁可导致其生长发育受阻及免疫力降低;铜缺乏时可有被毛稀疏、粗糙、缺乏光泽、弹性降低、颜色变浅等症状;缺锌时可表现鼻镜干燥,爪垫增厚或龟裂,被毛发育不良、易断;硒缺乏可表现被毛粗糙,骨骼肌变性、退色。     

Mucosal uptake,mucosal transfer and retention of iron in veal calves

A method for studying iron absorption in humans was adapted to veal calves. Three 10-week-old calves with moderate (calves 1 and 2) or severe (calf 3) iron deficiency were given an abomasal injection of⁵⁹Fe and⁵¹Cr and all their faeces were collected over 15 days in order to measure mucosal uptake, mucosal transfer and retention of iron. The mucosal uptake was 62.2, 53.4 and 71.8% in calves 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The iron retention measured 14 days after administration of the test dose was 57.4, 52.3 and 56.4% in calves 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Maximal plasma activity was found in all three calves between 1 1/2 and 2 h after injection of the test dose. The plasma activity decreased rapidly, with a slight increase between the 5th and the 10th hour. After 21 h, less than 0.25% of the injected dose was still present in 1 litre of plasma. Not all the⁵¹Cr was recovered in the faeces. No⁵⁹Fe was found in the urine but some⁵¹Cr could be detected. The results of this study show that the method described is useful for measuring the different steps of iron absorption in iron-deficient veal calves.Abbreviations Hb haemoglobin concentration - MCV mean corpuscular volume - PCV packed cell volume - PI plasma iron - RBC red blood cell count - R iron retention - TIBC total iron-binding capacity - TIBC-SAT saturation of the total iron-binding capacity - U mucosal uptake     

Comparative effect of selenium in wheat, barley, fish meal and sodium selenite for prevention of exudative diathesis in chicks

Groups af White Leghorn chicks obtained from dams deprived on selenium (Se), were fed from hatching a low-Se-vitamin E basal diet alone, or supplemented with 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 or 0.08 mg Se/kg diet, as sodium selenite (Na2SeO₃ · 5H₂O), wheat, barley or fish meal. Prevention of the Se-vitamin E deficiency responsive disease exudative diathesis (ED) as it was clinical observed, induction of the plasma Se dependent enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, and Se concentration in the cardiac muscle were observed to be dietary Se level and source dependent. Slope ratio assay was applied to estimate the biological availability of Se in the natural sources relative to Se in sodium selenite. For the prevention of ED, the bioavailability of Se in wheat, barley and fish meal was 99, 85 and 80 %, respectively. The increase in the plasma GSH-Px activity revealed a bioavailability for Se in wheat, barley and fish meal of 79, 71 and 66 %, respectively. Using retention of Se in the cardiac muscle as the bioassay, a bioavailability of 108, 87 and 100 % was calculated for wheat, barley and fish meal Se, respectively.     

Spirometric Variables Recorded after Lobeline Administration in Healthy Friesian and Belgian White and Blue Calves: Normal Values and Effects of Somatic Growth

The purposes of the present study were: (1) to develop original equations to predict spirometric variables (SV) in healthy Friesian and Belgian White and Blue (BWB) calves < 1 year of age; and (2) to determine the effects of somatic growth on SV. Sixty-seven Friesian and 500 BWB calves were investigated. For each calf, the following SV were calculated: (1) the average minute volume derived using all the ventilatory cycles recorded during the 15 s of maximal ventilatory changes induced by lobeline administration (0.25 mg/kg, i.v.) (15-s LMV); (2) the maximal tidal volume, the maximal peak expiratory flow and the maximal peak inspiratory flow recorded from single breaths after lobeline administration (MVTL, MPEFLand MPIFL, respectively); (3) the ventilatory reserve (VRL= 15-s LMV - VEr; VEr= minute volume at rest). Mass specific (s) values were also calculated. All SV changed linearly with somatic growth in both Friesian and BWB calves. Since the rise in SV was more related to body weight than the age of calves, equations for reference values of SV always had body weight as the only independent variable. In the youngest calves, s SV were lower in the BWB breed. In the oldest calves (i.e. 1 year of age), s MPEFLand s MPIFLremained small in BWB calves whereas s MVTL, s 15-s LMV and s VRLwere almost equal in both breeds. These results could be related to the lower resistance to respiratory disorders in BWB calves < 1 year of age than in Friesian calves < 1 year of age.     

Selenium balance in the adult cat in relation to intake of dietary sodium selenite and organically bound selenium

The response of cats to dietary sodium selenite (Na(2) SeO(3)) and organically bound selenium was studied in two separate studies with four cats per treatment and three levels of selenium supplementation (targets 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 μg/g DM) for each Se source. Whole blood and plasma selenium concentrations and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were determined at 7-time points across the 32-day study. Faeces were quantitatively collected during the last 8 days and urine was collected daily during both studies. The basal diet used had a low apparent faecal selenium absorption of 25.3 ± 3.0%. Daily faecal and urinary selenium excretion increased linearly with increasing selenium intake for both Se sources. Urinary selenium concentration of the cats fed the supplemented diets increased rapidly (～2 days) and remained constant throughout the remainder of the study. Apparent faecal selenium absorption was high for both selenium sources (73.2% and 80.0%). Plasma, and to a lesser extent, whole blood selenium concentrations increased in a dose-dependent manner with supplementation. Whole blood and plasma GPx activity were highly variable and showed a variable response to dietary selenium intake. Cats closely regulate selenium homeostasis through increasing urinary excretion whilst faecal absorption remains unaffected.     

Evaluation of Clitoria, Gliricidia and Mucuna as nitrogen supplements to Napier grass basal diet in relation to the performance of lactating Jersey cows

A study was carried out at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute Mtwapa in Coastal lowland Kenya to evaluate the effects of supplementing Napier grass variety Bana (Pennisetum purpureum) with Clitoria ternatea (Clitoria), Gliricidia sepium (Gliricidia) and Mucuna pruriens (Mucuna) on feed intake, diet digestibility and milk yield of lactating Jersey cows. Clitoria and Mucuna were compared with Gliricidia; a widely studied nitrogen supplement to roughage-based diets in dairy rations in coastal Kenya. Twelve lactating Jersey cows in their mid lactation were assigned to four groups balanced for initial milk yield and live weight in a completely randomised design. One group was fed Napier grass ad libitum and 3 kg of maize bran daily (control). The remaining three groups were fed the control diet supplemented with 8 kg of fresh Clitoria, Gliricidia or Mucuna. Mucuna had lower CP (180 g kg^{− 1}) concentration compared to Gliricidia (232 g kg^{− 1}) and Clitoria (218 g kg^{− 1}). Tannin concentration was higher in Gliricidia compared to the other legumes. They were however below the critical level of 6% hence were not expected to have any negative effect on animal performance. The total dry matter intake was not affected by legume supplementation (P > 0.05). Legume supplementation had no significant effect on organic and dry matter digestibilities (P > 0.05). Nitrogen supplementation (P < 0.05) increased daily milk yield by 20%, 27.5% and 32.5% for cows fed Gliricidia, Clitoria and Mucuna respectively. Results from this study show that Mucuna and Clitoria can give similar lactation performance to Gliricidia as nitrogen supplements Napier grass basal diet.