USE OF CRUSHED FLAX SEEDS AS A PREBIOTIC WHEN FEEDING DAIRY COWS DURING THE FULL LACTATION CYCLE

Abstract

Increased consumption of dry matter in diets by highly productive cows leads to a high level of energy per unit of dry weight and the introduction of 45-50% of concentrated feed into the feed mixture. As a result, scar digestion is modified, lactic acid synthesis by scar microorganisms increases, which creates conditions for the development of an acute inflammatory process in typical scar acidosis. The main method of preventing this disorder is the constant use of alkaline additives and buffer mixtures in the diet, which allow you to maintain the optimal pH. The cationic structure of these systems, when constantly used, has an irritating effect on the small and large intestines of cows, which leads to a weakening of digestion and the development of a diarrheal effect of varying severity. This leads to a decrease in the digestibility of feed nutrients and, as a result, a decrease in the level of milk yield with a loss of milk quality indicators. Restoration of normal digestion in ruminants in such conditions is possible with the additional introduction of specific probiotic drugs into the diet, of which there are not many, and most of them are ineffective. Therefore, it is more reliable and expedient to use not pro -, but prebiotics, which form a protective effect against diarrhea based on the activation of animals ‘ own intestinal microflora by changing the activity of the villi surface. In addition, the prebiotic effect is achieved by using individual astringents that reduce villi irritation. However, such special additives are characterized by an increased cost, so it is advisable to search for normal feed components of the diet that have pronounced prebiotic properties and justify their effectiveness in feeding cows. In a long-term experiment on dairy cows, the effect of correcting the feeding of highly productive animals using crushed flax seeds was studied, which was used as a functional feed ingredient with a prebiotic effect.