Effect of biological extract supplementation on milk yield and rumen fermentation in dairy cows

Abstract

Background and Objective: Recently use of extracts plants in animal nutrition as feed additives and natural alternatives for antibiotic, for improve feed efficiency and enhancing livestock productivity has increased. The current study was designed to determine the effect of oral administration of fruit and vegetable juice (FVJ) as natural additives on the productivity of dairy cows. Materials and Methods: In this study eighteen lactating crossbred Holstein Friesian cows were used in three similar groups (6 cows/group): 100 mL water/cow (control group). Group 2 and 3 were supplemented with 50 mL FVJ/cow (50 FVJ) (Group 2) and 100 mL FVJ/cow (100 FVJ) (Group 3) for 70 days. During experiment period parameters of milk, digestibility, fermentation, gas production, methane production and blood was evaluated. Results: The study revealed increased in digestibility coefficients, milk yield, 4% FCM and milk composition in Group 2 and 3. Concurrently ruminal fluid fermentation of total VFAs, acetic acid and ammonia-N concentrations had decreased. Also, cow’s supplementation with FVJ had a favorable effect to reduce cumulative gas production and methane compared to the control group. Moreover, the treatment with (100 FVJ) showed the lowest (p<0.05) in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) and total gas production compared with treated (50 FVJ) or control group. The treatments (50 FVJ) and (100 FVJ) had enhanced the hematological parameters (RBC, Hb, WBCs and PCV) in comparison to the control group. Simultaneously, cows supplemented with FVJ reduced liver enzymes compared with those in control group. The evaluation of (ALT and AST) showed a significant decrease for cow treatments by FVJ compared to the control. Conclusion: It concluded that supplementation of FVJ (50 or 100 mL/cow/day) to dairy cow improved the feed digestibility, rumen fermentation and productive performance.