The influence of feed additive „Optigen II“ to cow‘s productivity and health

Urea is one of the main end metabolite in the body‘s nitrogen metabolism proces. Ruminants (cows, sheep) are able to built their own body‘s proteins from urea due to the specific structure of their digestion system. The main goal of master‘s research was to investigate influence of feed additive „Optigen II“ to cow‘s productivity and health, replacing part of the protein feed in cow‘s ratio by non protein nitrogen product „Optigen II“. Milk, as the main physiological fluid of the cow was analysed every month to detect influence of „Optigen II“ to cow‘s productivity and health. Once per month on the dates 09 12 2008; 17 01 2009; 12 02 2009; 17 03 2009 according the schedule, there was a control milking of the cows from both groups – control group and test group, held. During control milkings, the following data was registered: milk yield per day, kg; butter fat concentration in milk, percent; milk protein concentration, percent; lactose concentration, percent; urea concentration in milk, mg/percent; somatic cell count, thousand/ml. Milk yield used to be determined on the farm, while milk analyses – in laboratory of state enterprise „Pieno tyrimai“ according to standartised methodics. Data received during the test period were analysed and compared between cow groups and Status of cow‘s health monitoring was made by analysing following rates: breathing frequency, pulse, rumen movement, body weight changes. Milk yield rates in both groups, control and test, were by 4 % higher comparing with the beginning of the test period rates. Similar data was determined comparing milk yield by standartised 4 % milk. This rate was increasing in both groups during all test period respectivelly by 12 – 20 %. But this increase was higher by 15 % in the test group. Butter fat concentration in milk of test group cows was positively influenced by „Optigen II“. During the test period, butter fat concentrations grew in both groups, respectivelly by 11 and 25 %. Milk protein concentration in both groups rised, comparing protein rates in the beginning and the end of the test period. The protein concentration level increased respectivelly by 25 and 21 %. We want to underline, that protein level increase was more equivalent in the test group. Lactose concentration was higher in average by 6 % in test group cows milk. Milk urea rate was in the range of normal concentration in both groups of cows. At the end of test period urea rates dropped down in both groups to 10,2 – 10,5 mg%. As a conclusion, milk yield was higher in average by 1,44 kg of the test group per cow per day or test group cow gave extra profit for the farmer by 1,15 Lt per day, or 115 Lt per 100 cow herd per day, when producer milk price was 0,8 Lt/kg. Taking in to account, that farmer is also spending less money for protein feed and havind extra profit from extra milk yield, we can state, that farmer is able to earn 147 Lt more per day from his dairy herd using feed additive „Optigen II“