Probiotic feed supplement “PROGAL” in feeding the milking cows
Authors: Denkovich B. S. , Pivtorak Y. I. , Gordiychuk N. M. 
Published: November 2019

Full-fledged feeding of milking cows, based on scientifically based standards, is the key to realizing their genetic potential for productivity, preserving health, normalizing reproductive capacity, as well as the rational use of fodder resources and the proper payment of feed. Nowadays, the situation regarding the standardization of cattle feeding in the world and domestic, both in scientific and industrial practice, has changed radically, which requires a significant revision of the traditional provisions on the organization of full feeding of cows, especially high-productive ones. At the same time, the conceptual requirements for the organization of standardized nutrition and full feeding of dairy cattle should be based on the generalization of the world experience of the animal's need for energy, nutrients and biologically active substances, taking into account age and level of productivity, conditions of keeping with special emphasis on quality and products. In conditions of intensive milk production, in order to ensure high productivity and at the same time to maintain the health of animals, it is impossible to do it without the use of fodder of a natural substance, which should include additives with a probiotic effect. One of these is the “PROGAL” feed additive, which contains a probiotic component: Laktobacilus casei strain (CM 1759), a potentiating component is maltodextrin, a fructo-oligosaccharide, and is a probiotic additive for ruminants. High dairy productivity requires constant monitoring of metabolism, animal health, early diagnosis and timely treatment and prevention. The whole process of metabolism takes place in the digestive tract and is transmitted to the cells of the body through blood. This explains the relevance of the study of biochemical processes in rumination. The basis of the research is the task of optimizing the normalized feeding of real cows due to the use in the diet of probiotic supplement “PROGAL” on the background of a semi-concentrated juicy silage-hay type feeding. On the basis of scientific-economic (90 days) experiment, to determine its influence on the processes of digestion in the rumen, milk productivity and quality indicators of milk and to conclude on the optimal amount of it in the diet. The studies were conducted on Simmental cows in the conditions of the “Pchany-Denkovych” farm in the Zhydachiv district of Lviv region. It was found that feeding of the diet with feed supplements “PROGAL” aided to improve the intensity of metabolic processes in the body of cows, in particular in the rumen. Possible growth of amylo- and cellulosolytic and proteolytic bacteria was found, which ensured their enzyme activity and caused intensive hydrolysis of feed carbohydrates, resulting in an increase in LFA as precursors to milk fat. A positive result was obtained with respect to the level of dairy productivity of the cows of the experimental groups in comparison with the control group on the average daily milk yield, which is 1.0–2.3 kg, or 4.4–9.7% more. There was a steady upward trend in fat content in milk by 0.05% and protein by 0.02–0.04%, which indicates an improvement in its quality. Consequently, the studies conducted concerning the estimation of the productive action of bio supplement “PROGAL” on milking productivity of cows and quality indicators of milk, gives reason to confirm the feasibility of its use in the structure of the diet when feeding cows. The optimal dose of compound feed is 10 g/day, the maximum dose can be no more than 15 g/day. No adverse effects of “PROGAL” supplement on the overall functional status of cows were found.