Addition of oregano or green tea extracts into the diet for Jersey cows in transition period. Feeding and social behavior, intake and health status. Plant extracts for cows in the transition period

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of feeding oregano or green tea extracts on feeding and social behavior, intake and health status of dairy cows during the transition period. Twenty-four Jersey cows were randomly assigned to treatments: control (CON), 10 g / day of oregano extract (OE) or 5 g / day of green tea extract (GT). Dry matter intake (DMI) was evaluated from 7 days pre-calving until the 16 days of lactation using chromium oxide. Feeding and social behaviors as well as the occurrence of health problems were monitored throughout the experimental period. Plant additives did not affect dry matter intake before calving, but after calving Oregano supplementation tended to increase DMI in 1.3 kg compared with Control. Before calving, during the daytime period, OR tended to decrease time spent lying down in 38 min and eating the concentrate in 8.6 min compared with GT. After calving, Oregano reduced time spent eating the concentrate in 9.8 and 7.5 min compared with GT and CON, respectively. The number of total visits to the feeder was lower for cows supplemented with OE compared to the others. Before calving, when GT was added to the diet, cows visited 3.3 times more the feeder and tended to interact 1.2 and 1.6 times less compared to cows in OE and CON groups, respectively. The number of metabolic disorders and clinical and subclinical infectious diseases was similar between treatments, but cows in OE group that were affected by some disease or disorder, tended to present clinical symptoms or subclinical diagnosis on average 8 days later than those supplemented with GT. Oregano and green tea extracts administered into the diet of lactating Jersey cows during the transition periods change several traits of feeding and social behavior but do not change diet intake and the occurrence of diseases.