No abstract

The effects of the enzymatic approach to reducing the milk somatic cell count (SCC) have been examined. Bacterial lysozyme, a lytic carbohydrase, was used in this experiment as a model enzyme preparation. Twenty 2nd Á/3rd lactation Lithuanian black and white cows with a similar milk SCC [(6009/150) )/10 3 cells ml (1 ] and of a similar weight (5509/50 kg) were involved in the study and were randomly allocated into three test groups (n 0/5) and one control group. The enzyme was given to the test groups once daily with feed (each group of animals received a different dose) for ten successive days. Application of any of lysozyme doses tested (50, 100 or 200 mg kg wt (1 ) resulted in a reduction of milk SCC, the result obtained with the highest dose (200 mg kg wt (1 ) was statistically significant (p B/0.05). No significant changes in haematological indices of cows as well as in protein, fat and lactose quantities in milk influenced by lysozyme application were observed.