Effect of enzyme supplementation on feed utilization, blood constituents and reproduction in dairy cows

Abstract

Jersey and crossbred (Jersey x Kankrej) lactating cows (I 8) were used to evaluate the response ofexogenous enzyme supplementation in concentrate mixture in their performance in terms ofdry matter intake, efficiency ofmilk production, blood constituents and reproduction. The cows were randomly allotted to 3 treatments (6 each) after attaining the peak production. The cows in first group (Tj ) were fed concentrate mixture without enzyme (control); second group (T,) were fed control diet with enzyme A (live yeast cells + mixture ofenzymes); and third group (T 3 ) were fed control diet with enzyme B (commercial preparation having mixture of enzymes) for 24 week. The mixture ofenzymes was added at the time of preparation of concentrate mixture in dry powder form. The average total dry matter intake of cows was 9.14 (T1), 9.65 (T) and 9.05 (T3) kg for 1 to 8 weeks period. Similar, nonsignificant differences for dry matter intake were also observed during 9 to 16 and 17 to 24 weeks period. Efficiency of milk production was higher in cows fed T, diet after initial 8 weeks period. However, efficiency for FeM production was significantly higher in cows fed T, and T: diet compared to the cows fed Tj (control) during 1to 8 weeks period and highly significant during 9 to 16 and i7 to 24weeks period. At the same time, no differences were observed for different blood constituents and reproductive parameters for whole experimental period. The supplementation of a mixture of enzymes with yeast improved feed efficiency of cows without increase in feed intake and any adverse effect on blood constituents and reproductive behaviour.