Effect of herbal feed additives on milk performance and health status of dairy goats.

Abstract

Introduction: Interest is increasing in natural feed additives that improve animal health, raise farming productivity and enhance the quality of animal products. These additives, especially polyphenols, are biologically active chemical compounds found in plants.

Material and methods: Sixty dairy goats were randomly assigned to five feeding groups of 12 animals each. Over 16 weeks, the animals received a polyherbal supplement containing seven or nine herb species at 20 or 40 g/animal/day, along with pelleted concentrate feed. The health status of the animals was assessed based on the concentration of acute phase haptoglobin proteins and serum amyloid A in blood serum.

Results: A statistically significant positive effect of the herbal mixtures was found on the percentage of milk fat and fat : protein ratio (P-value < 0.05). The time of test-day milking and milk sampling had a significant impact on the level of all examined milk parameters (P-value < 0.001). Moreover, milk yield and fat-corrected milk yield were significantly affected by a feeding group × time of test-day milking and milk sampling interaction, influencing the level of examined parameters.

Conclusion: The use of herbal supplements in the diet of dairy goats did not negatively affect the goats' milk production - neither the yield nor composition. A positive effect of the administered multi-herbal mixtures was found on % fat concentration and fat : protein ratio in milk.