Effects of Adsorbent and Phytobiotic on Density of Rumen Infusoria and Cow Milk Production

Abstract

Effects of the Vermiculite adsorbent and the Ruminant Extract phytobiotic on the density of infusoria inhabiting rumen and the cow milk production have been studied. It was ascertained that these supplements had a positive effect on the density of rumen infusoria when they were added to the rations for the lactating cows. Their populations in the animals provided with the combined Vermiculite and Ruminant Extract supplement and the only Ruminant Extract phytobiotic comprised 309 000 and 234 000 specimens per 1 mL of rumen fluid, respectively; in the control animals, there were 203 000 specimens per 1 mL of rumen fluid. The populations of infusoria were increased by 52.3 and 15.4%, respectively. Therefore, the Vermiculite adsorbent and the Ruminant Extract phytobiotic contributed to improving the cow milk production by 4.1 and 3.8%, respectively.