Productivity and physicochemical properties of milk when using feed additives in the diet of cows

Relevance. Dairy cattle farming is a strategically important sector of the economy, providing the population with a valuable food product. In the context of growing requirements for productivity and product quality, the search for effective and safe feed additives for dairy cows is an urgent scientific and practical task aimed at intensifying the industry.

Methodology. To conduct a scientific and economic experiment, four similar groups of dairy cows of the Holsteinized Black-and-White breed were formed. Animals of the control (I) group received a standard basic ration (BR). The following were added daily to the rations of the experimental groups: group II — “Diatomite” at a rate of 100 g per head, group III — “Monosporin” (70 g/head), group IV — “Zaslon 2+” (20 g/head). The study was conducted over a full lactation period.

Results. The use of feed additives significantly increased productivity and milk quality. The total milk yield per lactation in groups II-IV exceeded the control by 0.9%, 8.7%, and 11.5%, respectively. The composition of milk improved substantially: fat content increased by 2.1–4.9%, protein by 2.5–11.7%, casein by 2.0–7.8%, and solids-not-fat (SNF) by 0.9–2.8%. Milk density increased by 4.9–9.9%. The greatest positive effect on most indicators, including calcium content, was observed with the use of the “Zaslon 2+” additive. Economic efficiency confirmed the feasibility of using the additives. Additional profit from milk sales ranged from 9,309 thousand rubles in group II to 14,936 thousand rubles in group IV. The profitability level of milk production in group IV reached 24.1%, which is 15.4 percentage points higher than in the control group, demonstrating a high return on investment.

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