Impact of a feed additive (acidifier and toxin-binder) in milk production in dairy cattle

Abstract

Dairy cow feeding plays an important role in milk production. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a feed additive (association of acidifier and mycotoxin binder) on milk production in dairy cattle. For this purpose, 22 cows belonging to three breeds (Montbeliard, Holstein, and Flekveih) were used. The cows were divided into two groups; a control group with seven cows and an experimental group with 15 animals. The results showed that the additive had a positive effect on milk production (23.14±5.87 litres for the experimental group vs 18.00±6.90 litres for the control). The additive also had a good effect on the percentage of sub-clinical mastitis: the Californian Mastitis Test (CMT) carried out at monthly intervals showed a clear improvement in the udder health of females in the experiment with 13 positive samples in the first test for nine cows (with four affected teats) and 10 positive samples for the second test in three cows (with three affected teats). Moreover, statistical tests revealed a significant difference in the mean fat content (35 g/L vs 23.86 g/L, respectively) while the average Faeces Consistency Score and Dornic acidity was lower in the experimental group compared to the control (2.23 vs 3.21 and 13.83 vs 16.14, respectively). These results show the importance of incorporating the feed additive into the diet of dairy cows and the need to implement an extension programme and zootechnical supervision of all actors in the sector to ensure the quality of milk production and the performance of dairy cows.