Influence of Natural Zeolites Supplemented with Inorganic Selenium on the Productive Performance of Dairy Cows
Influence of Natural Zeolites Supplemented with Inorganic Selenium on the Productive Performance of Dairy Cows
Monica Paula Marin1, Elena Narcisa Pogurschi1*, Iuliana Marin2 and Carmen Georgeta Nicolae1
ABSTRACT
Milk quality is the most important criterion for the selection done by consumers. The natural, less expensive methods for improving the milk quality are the most studied by farmers and researches. Clinoptilolite, natural zeolite added to dairy cows diets, has been proven to be an efficient and economic solution. Starting from the fact that natural zeolites are recognized as having beneficial effects on the animal organism, being detoxifiers, immunomodulators, regulators of the internal pH, we studied the effect of using volcanic stuff as a food additive in dairy cows during the precalving, postcalving periods and in the first part of lactation. Experiments were carried out on 90 Holstein–Friesian cows, divided into 3 homogenous groups based on age and number of lactation. In diet of the two experimental groups were added 150 g and 300 g natural zeolite/head/day and we provided 0.28 mg selenium/kg feed dry matter, as opposed to the control group, which received 0.15 mg selenium/kg feed dry matter. The diets supplemented with natural zeolite based on clinoptilolite were administrated one month before parturition and continued for 16 other weeks. The zeolite consumption of 150 g/head/day has determined a decrease in the content of milk in heavy metals, increasing the concentration of unsaturated acids (oleic, linoleic) and immunoglobulins in colostrum, as well as reducing the diarrheal gastric disease of cattle. By adding zeolite in the cow ration during the precalving period has determined a significant increase in blood serum calcium during the last week of precalving period, as well as in the calving and postcalving periods, having as consequence fewer recorded milk fever cases. The results obtained can convince the farmers to use volcanic tuff as a food additive in the feeding of dairy cows during the precalving, postcalving and lactation periods, in parallel with ensuring the selenium requirements, because the natural zeolite can improve the reproductive capacity and productive performance of cows, the health status of the resulting calves.
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April 2020
Vol. 52, Iss. 2, Pages 425-824
