Milk productivity of Saanen goats while feeding organic humic origin feed supplement

Abstract

The results of the study of Saanen goats milk productivity while feeding humic origin organic feed supplement of «VitaHum» are presented in the paper. Studying milk productivity of different goat breeds, as well as using balanced rations of biologically active feed supplements for therapeutic and prophylactic properties and improving metabolic processes and body functions, are important issues for animal breeding industry, since goat husbandry in Ukraine is in a state of formation. «VitaHum» is completely different from existing biologically active peat supplements on the market because it is received not as a result of peat hydrolysis by alkalis or acids, but by a natural way of chelation. It does not contain humic acids sodium salts with alkali residues with which no reaction had taken place, but residues of amino acids, peptides, carboxylic acids and other useful substances in pure «natural» organic form. This feed supplement meets European standards of organic products. It was found that with the industrial technology of the animal management and feeding with mixed diets when using humic origin feed supplement «VitaHum» during the entire lactation period, milk yield was increased by 15.9% or 137.3 kg, milk protein content by 0.11 abs. percent. However, the goats from the control group had the advantage in milk fat content by 0.09 abs. percent (P > 0.999). The maximum average daily milk yield of 3.55 kg was observed in the second experimental group of goats, which received feed supplements «VitaHum» in addition to the main diet. However, as a result of a significant advantage in milk yield from goats of the experimental group, a noticeably higher amount of both milk protein and milk fat mass fraction was obtained by 5.94 kg and 4.63 kg, respectively. Analysis of the qualitative milk composition of the experimental goats showed that the percentage of milk solids non-fat (MSNF) was in the range of 8.45–8.58%, and the content of somatic cells in the milk of control group animals was higher by 7.05%. The qualitative milk composition was quite satisfactory for this breed of goats, as the milk fat mass fraction was 3.94–4.03% and protein one 3.52–3.63%. The ratio of fat and protein at the level of 1.15–1.09 units indicated a good physiological state of the digestive system of the Saanen breed goats.