Nutrients digestibility and productivity of lactating cows consuming energy supplements

Abstract

The article provides the data of the scientific and economic experience in studying the influence of energy supplements included in the diet of lactating cows of black-motley breed during milking time on digestibility of basic nutrients and milk production. During the research period all experimental animals were kept in the same conditions corresponding to zoohygienic parameters. The differences were the following: in addition to the main silage consisting of alfalfa haylage, grass silage, grain turf and salt the animals of the experimental group I received “Cow Energy” supplement in a dose of 200 g/animal unit/per day; the animals of the experimental group II – “Ketostop-El” energy supplement at a dose of 200 g/animal unit/per day. Both supplements are of Russian production. Animals of the control group had only the main diet. Only clinically healthy animals participated in the experiment. It was found that the inclusion of energy supplements into the diet of lactating cows of the experimental groups compared with the ones of the control group during the milking period led to an improvement of the dry matter digestibility by 1.15–2.02 %, organic matter – by 0.92–2.19 %, raw protein – by 1.79–2.31 %, crude fat – by 1.88–2.35 %, crude fiber – by 0.80–1.88 % and nitrogen-free extractives – by 2.15–2.94 %. Also, it contributed to an increase in milk productivity and an increase in the qualitative composition of milk.