EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROBIOTICS IN THE RATION OF DAIRY GOATS

Abstract

The effectiveness of using the probiotic preparation Plantarum in feeding dairy-oriented goats is demonstrated. The scientific and economic experiment was conducted on crossbred Saanen goats at the LLC KFH "EcoFarma," Zudilovo village, Pervomaysky district of the Altai Territory. Four groups of pregnant goats were formed, each consisting of 20 animals, for the experiment. The control group (Group 1) animals received the primary balanced ratio according to nutrients and energy. In the second half of pregnancy, an experimental probiotic preparation, Plantarum (developed by the FGBNU FANTSA, SibNIIS department), was additionally introduced into the ration of goats in the experimental groups at doses of 0.4 ml/kg body weight per day for Group 2, 0.6 ml for Group 3, and 0.8 ml for Group 4. It was found that feeding the probiotic preparation Plantarum had a positive effect on the physiological condition of the experimental animals. In comparison with the control group, goats in the experimental groups showed a higher haemoglobin content by 0.9–5.5% (p≤0.05) and erythrocytes by 3.8–15.2% (p≤0.05). An analysis of the blood biochemical parameters of goats in the experimental groups showed a tendency to increase total calcium and inorganic phosphate. Along with this, during the experiment, the probiotic preparation Plantarum's positive influence on the experimental animals' milk productivity was established, which was expressed in an increase in the gross and average daily milk yield by 0.02–3.27% relative to the control. The use of probiotics did not significantly impact the fertility of goats but affected the survival rate of their offspring, increasing it by 3.0–6.3%. The feasibility of using the probiotic preparation Plantarum in the rations of goats at doses of 0.6 and 0.8 ml/kg body weight per day is justified by economic efficiency calculations.