Influence of innovative calcium-containing additive on growth and development of heifer replacement

Abstract

The comparative effect of the use of various physical forms of calcium gluconate on the growth and development of heifer replacement has been studied. Calcium-MAG is a nanodispersed nanostructured amorphous form of calcium salt of gluconic acid with a dispersion of tens to hundreds of nanometers and sizes of agglomerates not exceeding 500 nm. It is established that the use of calcium gluconate of various forms in diets promotes the growth of heifer replacement. Thus, the absolute growth of live weight in the animals of experimental groups in the main period of the experiment was 3.1 to 7.8% higher than in the control group. At the same time, the heifers that received Calcium-MAG were characterized by great superiority (7.8%). The positive effect of calcium gluconates was also observed in further age periods, which led to a statistically significant difference in live weight between the control and second experimental group at the age of 18 months by 7.1 (P≥0.99) and 2.6%, respectively. The animals of the second experimental group were 10.9% and 2.9% more than their average counterparts in the control group (P≥0.99) and the first test group, respectively, in terms of the average daily weight gain. Observations showed that the height at the withers in animals, both at the age of 12 months and at the age of 18 months in the second test group was significantly higher than in the control group by 2.7 cm and 3.8 cm, respectively. A similar trend was observed in measuring the depth of the chest. A significant difference in this measurement was established between the animals of the control group and the second test group. At the age of 12 months, the advantage was 3.6 cm, at the age of 18 months - 2.6 cm (P≥0.999). The use of mechanically activated calcium gluconate in rations of heifer replacement at an early age contributes to their better growth, preserving the aftereffect in subsequent periods.