Effects of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and ... - FINS

1 st WorkshopXIII International Feed Technology SymposiumRESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN IAS KOSTINBRODHERBAL ADDITIVESHerbal additives have aroused much scientific interest over the past few years. Most ofthe studies have been performed on the extracts of herbs and used in the feed of differenttype and categories monogastrics and ruminants. Because of that many herbs showprophylactic and therapeutic effects by regulating the functioning of the internal organsof animals. Bulgarian scientists have recently discovered the potential of a plant extractmixture of seven components in dairy cow nutrition to improve the production andquality of milk and to get better its composition. Substances found in herbs havestimulating and regulating effects on metabolic processes and could reduceenvironmental stress. Feeding herb mixtures seems a more beneficial approach due tocumulative effects that individual herb types can have when fed in combination.OVOCAPPresentationThe physiological effect of the Bulgarian nutritional additive OVOCAP® (Kitanov,1998) is based on the seven alkaloids known under the common name CAP (Methylvanillyl-nonenamide-capsaicin),carotene and other biologically active substances. Whilethe action of carotene is well studied, the action of CAP is not fully cleared. Ourexperiments showed that CAP has: bacteriostatic effect on some bacteria (poultry); nodeviation from normal values of transaminasic activity of the liver, hydrolytic activity ofmycosis and histostructures of the jejunum, stomach, liver and kidneys (swine); 4-5%effect on real digestibility of the amino acids in standard compound feeds (geese);effect on the laying rate (pheasants); effect on the reproductivity (hens, turkeys, ewesand cows); effect on milk fats (sheep).The aim of this study was, taking into consideration the above, to study the action ofOVOCAP® administrated per os, on production and quality of milk and itsphysicochemical composition of cows.Material and MethodsAnimals: A total of twelve lactating American Brown cows (BW = 695 ± 28 kg; at thebeginning of the lactation) were separated into two equivalent treatments for 1,5 year,started in the autumn to the winter feeding period to prevent so different pastureconditions.Feeding: Cows were fed typical diets during the winter (corn silage, meadow hay, straw,wheat bran, potatoes and compound feed) and summer (pasture and compound feed).Experimental cows received in addition to concentrate part of daily ration per 2x22 mlOVOCAP® every 28 day post partum, as first doses were on 3/4 days post partum.(Table 1)Methods: Analytical methods of feed used – in accordance with international standards(AOAC).The statistic processing of the obtained results – Microsoft Excel.Controlling parameters: Milk yield, (average per day), milk quality (somatic cells count,SCC and bacterial count, BC) and composition of milk in % (dry matter (DM), fats,protein, solids-non-fat (SNF), lactose); levels of cholesterol (HDL, LDL and VLDL),triglycerides and total lipids. For more details see Petkova et al. (2008a, b) and Petkovaet al. (2009).76