INFLUENCE OF THE FEED ADDITIVE “MEGABOOST RUMEN” ON MILK PRODUCTIVITY OF COWS AT THE BEGINNING OF LACTATION

Abstract

The study examined the impact of a Russian feed additive on the zootechnic and economic efficiency of milk production. The domestic feed additive “MegaBoost Rumen” by Megamix is based on an inactivated fermentation extract of the fungus-producer and specialized strains of live yeast. The study was conducted in 2022-2023 on black-and-white Holstein cows at a сommercial dairy farm (Krasnodar Territory, Vyselkovskaya zone, Revko). Two parallel experiments were conducted on lactating cows after calving. The first experiment involved 28 animals each in the control and experimental groups, while the second experiment involved 27 animals in each group, respectively. The animals of the control group were fed protein-vitamin-mineral concentrate (PVMC) as part of the compound feed in the amount of 10% of the compound feed weight, while in the experimental group, PVMC was replaced with “MegaBoost Rumen” supplement in the amount of 100 g/head per day during the first 30 days after calving. The results of two experiments established an increase in milk productivity of cows in the experimental group. Thus, the overall milk yield over the experimental period (90 days) was higher than the control by 10,8 and 12,1%, respectively. Feeding the feed additive did not reduce the appetite of animals in the experimental groups, which contributed to the full value of their feeding. The net income in the experimental group was higher than the control by 207744 and 208615 rubles. The profitability of milk production increased: by 11,8% in the first experiment and by 12,28% in the second experiment.