Use of canola meal (Brassica napus) in the dairy cows feeding

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different levels of substitution (R00; R6.87; R13.74 and R20.6) soybean meal by canola meal (CM), in the concentrate mixture on milk production (MP), milk protein (Mpt), fat (F), dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW), hematocrit levels (HC), effective degradation of dry matter (EDDM), effective degradation of crude protein (EDCP), in vitro dry matter disappearence (IVDMD), in vitro cell wall disappearence (IVCWD) for concentrates, and in vitro total diet disappearence (IVDTR). Four multiparous holstein cows were distributed in a 4x4 latin square design. The milk yield and quality, hematocrit levels and weight gain were determined. Milk production, milk protein, fat, dry matter intake, body weight and hematocrit levels were not influenced when CM increased in the concentrate mixture. Incorporation of CM in place of SM up to 20.6% did not influence the studied variables.