BIOTECHNOLOGICAL TOOL TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF MILCH COWS BY SUPPLEMENTING ENZYMES
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Date
2004
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AAU, Anand
Abstract
The present experiment was planned and conducted to know the effect of supplementing fibrolytic enzymes as a biotechnological tool in concentrate mixture of lactating dairy cows. The feeding experiment was conducted on eighteen Jersey and crossbred (J x K) lactating cows with average body weight of 288.33 to 299.67 kg, average daily milk production 9.60 to 9.65 kg and average milk fat 3.28 to 3.30 % in the beginning of the study. The cows were grouped randomly into three treatments (T1, T2, T3,) with six cows under each treatment following completely randomized design. First group (T1) was fed concentrate mixture without enzyme (control). In second group (T2) control diet with Enzyme A (Commercial preparation having live yeast cells as well as media includes cocktail of enzymes - xylanase, phytase, cellulase, p - glucanase, pectinase, amylase, protease, a-galactosidase, P-galactosidase and lipase. The cows under third group (T3) were fed control diet with enzyme B (Commercial preparation having cocktail of enzymes - cellulase, proteases, phytases, invertases, amylases and lipases). Experimental feeding of individual cows was carried out for the period of 24 weeks. The nutrient requirements were met as per ICAR (1985) feeding standards for lactating cows. The change in body weight of lactating cows under T1, T2 and T3 was found to be +18.3, +8.5 and +13.5 kg (P>0.05), reflecting that feeding of enzymes had no adverse effect on body weight of lactating cows during the period of study. The average daily milk production of cows under T1, T2 and T3 was 7.79,10.01 and 8.28 kg, indicating that cows fed enzymes A (live yeast cells + cocktail of commercial enzymes) at 50 g per 100 kg concentrate mixture (T2) produced the highest amount of milk followed by cows under T3 (cocktail of commercial enzymes B at 200 g per 100 kg concentrate mixture) than the cow fed control (T1) ration. The average daily 4% FCM production of cows under T2 was significantly higher than T3 and T1 (P<0.01). The total milk production was found to be 1308.88, 1681.87 & 1390.55 kg under T1, T2 and T3, respectively (P<0.05) during the period of study. However, similar values for FCM production were 1278.13, 1876.03 & 1490.17 kg under three treatments, respectively and the effect of treatment was found to be highly significant. Superior performance of cows under T2 might be due to presence of live yeast cells over and above the cocktail of enzymes in it. The effect of treatment was more pronounced in primiparous cows than in multiparous cows. Persistency of milk production of cows fed T2 diet was found to be superior than the cows under other treatments. The average daily butter fat production and protein production were found to be significantly higher in T2 than other treatments. Average weekly milk fat content under T1, T2 and T3 was 3.87, 4.78, and 4.54 per cent, respectively and the difference was significant. Thus the enzymes supplementation in concentrate mixture of lactating cows (T2 and T3) increased fat per cent of milk than control diet (T1). Similar pattern was observed for milk total solids, while other constituents of milk were unaffected by enzyme supplementation. The positive effect of enzyme supplementation on fat % of milk was observed after 3rd week and it was continued throughout the experimental period. Average blood hemoglobin contents was 10.21,10.27 and 10.32 g per cent under T1, T2 and T3, respectively (P>0.05). The average blood glucose concentration showed minimum fluctuation during experimental period and remained almost constant (P>0.05). Serum protein concentration was also found to be more or less same and values were ranging from 7.32 to 7.43 g per cent under all the treatments (P>0.05). Serum phosphorus and serum calcium concentration were found to be almost uniform under different treatment (P>0.05). All the cows became pregnant within 95 to 98 days after parturition indicating that reproductive behavior and general health of lactating cows was not affected by supplementing enzymes in their concentrate mixture. The cost of feeding per kg milk was found to be less by 36 paise (7.23 %) under T2 over control ration (T1) and 58 paise (11.15 %) over T3. However, cost of feeding per kg FCM was less by 97 paise (18.98 %) under T2 over control ration and 70 paise (14.46 %) over T3. Thus, cows fed concentrate mixture with enzyme A (live yeast cells and cocktail of commercial enzymes) at 50 g per 100 kg had beneficial and significant effect on performance of cows in terms of milk, 4% FCM, fat production, protein production and milk fat % while other constituents of milk, different blood metabolites (haemoglobin, blood glucose etc.), including reproductive status and health of experimental animals were unaffected and found to be normal. Cows fed concentrate mixture with enzymes A (live yeast cells + cocktail of commercial enzymes) at 50 g per 100 kg were found to be economically more efficient by 7.23 and 11.15 per cent to produce milk and 18.98 & 14.46 per cent to produce FCM in comparison to cows fed control (T1) or T3 (cocktail of commercial enzymes B) rations, respectively.
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ANIMAL NUTRITION, AGRICULTURE, A STUDY