The influence of zeolite-mineral feed additives on the growth and development of young cattle in Yakutia

Abstract

This article presents the results of the study to determine the effect of zeolite-mineral feed additives when feeding young Simmental cattle in the conditions of Yakutia. Scientific and economic experiments to determine the optimal norms of local mineral feed additives were carried out in the conditions of Central Yakutia. The experiment was performed on young bulls of the Simmental cattle breed during the age of between 12 and 18 months. The experimental animals were selected by the analog method, which took into account the indicators of age, live weight and clinical indicators. During the experiment animals were kept under identical conditions. The difference was that the experimental groups were additionally given a mineral feed supplement – hongurin in different doses and Kempendyai salt with the daily basic diet. Animals in the cold season were kept in a small cattle house, fastened. During the experiments the optimal rate of inclusion of a zeolite-mineral feed additive was established, which allowed to maximize the growth rates of live weight while maintaining all clinical and physiological norms of the body. Thus, at the end of the experiment the animals of the II and III experimental groups were heavier than their peers from the test group by 2.93% and 4.28%. As a result, the animals of the experimental groups reached a live weight of 382.5 and 385.3 kg versus 371.6 kg in the test group. Growth rate indicators in test group bulls equaled 564.44 g, and for bulls in the II and III experimental groups 630 g and 650.56 g, respectively (indicators are higher by 11.62% and 15.26%). Thus, the use of zeolite-mineral feed additives in feeding young Simmental cattle in Yakutia has shown efficiency.