Effect of the probiotic feed additive “Immunobacterin-D” on the productivity of black speckled cows during lactation

Abstract

In Ukraine, as in every country in the world, an important task is to develop an effective development strategy for producing natural dairy products through probiotics. Feeding PFA to animals shows different effectiveness depending on their age, the intestinal microbiome's characteristics, the feed diet's composition and production technology. The purpose of the study was to identify the most effective period of application of PFA “Immunobacterin-D" and to select a yeast culture to increase the milk productivity of cows. The effectiveness of PFA was evaluated by the amount of milk produced, and its quality – by using an Ecomilk ultrasound analyser. The health status of cows was monitored based on the results of a spectrophotometric study of biochemical parameters of blood serum on a LabLine-010 biochemical analyser (Austria). As a result, it was determined that the optimal period of application of PFA is 30-60 days after calving. On the 13th day of PFA feeding, milk yields in cows of the experimental group increased by 1.2-2.5 L/day. The difference in the amount of milk produced between the animals of the experimental and control groups was 0.7-1.9 L/day. From 70 days after calving, the use of PFA in cows did not cause changes in the volume of milk yield but contributed to an increase in its fat content. By feeding cows of the experimental strain for 21 days S. cerevisiae as part of the PFA, the maximum increase in milk yield was obtained – by 2.13 L, and milk fat – by 0.45%. Whereas the use of PFA with a conventional strain S. cerevisiae AF 338 contributed to an increase in milk yield by 1.73 L, and in the control group of cows only by 1.30 L. According to the results of biochemical studies of blood serum, the positive effect of PFA “Immunobacterin-D” on the health status of cows was proved. PFA can be recommended for feeding cows in production, which will help increase milk yield and improve their health