Application of Effective Technological Methods for the Production of Environmentally Safe Cow's Milk

The production of crop and livestock products in agro-ecosystems requires not onlysystematic monitoring of quality and environmental safety, but also the development of effectivetechnological methods for the production of environmentally safe cow’s milk. The purpose of theresearch is to analyze the effectiveness of the applied technological methods in feeding productive cowsfor the production of environmentally safe milk and increasing animal productivity. Experiments wereconducted on dairy cows of the Ukrainian black and red-motley dairy breeds with different types offeeding: silage-root, silage-hay, silage-haylage, and silage-hay-concentrate. The main diet of cows wassupplemented with a specially developed mineral-vitamin premix, taking into account the antagonisticeffect of its components on the ecotoxicants lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). The animals of the controlgroup were on the main diet, while the second and third groups additionally ate the premix. Theaverage daily milk yield was 14.0–14.8 kg. Laboratory chemical analysis of average feed samples forthe concentration of macro- and microelements, including Pb and Cd, was carried out by the atomicabsorption method. The STATISTICA version 10.0 program was used for statistical processing ofthe results obtained. Chemical analysis of feed showed an increased content of heavy metals lead,cadmium, copper, and zinc. Analysis of diets showed a deficiency of macro- and microelements incobalt (64.5%), iodine (59.8%), phosphorus (43.1%), sulfur (33.5%), calcium (7.6%), and magnesium(7.2%) in cows with silage-root type of feeding; deficiency of cobalt (54.1%), phosphorus (47.4%),iodine (40.1%), sulfur (28.0%), manganese (2.3%) in silage-hay feeding; deficiency of cobalt (80.7%),iodine (65.2%), phosphorus (56.7%), sulfur (5.5%) in silage-hay feeding; and deficiency of cobalt(79.83%), iodine (20.15%), phosphorus (50.91%), sulfur (25.15%), manganese (20.15%), magnesium(2.7%) in silage-hay-concentrate feeding. Cobalt (54.1–80.7% average percentage of deficiency),phosphorus (43.1–56.7%), iodine (20.15–65.2%), sulfur (5.5–33.5%), manganese (2.3–20.15%),magnesium (2.7–7.2%) and calcium (7.6%) were the most deficient in all diets. The deficiency ofthese essential elements increases the toxic effects of Pb and Cd. Feeding a mineral-vitamin premixcontributed to a lower incorporation of heavy metals in the body of animals of the experimental groups,which positively affected their physiological state and productivity, which increased on average by1.3–1.7 times compared with animals of the control groups (P < 0.001). The silage-hay type of feedingwas the most effective in relation to feeding the premix in the second experimental group. The milkproductivity of cows increased by 1.6 times compared with the control group (P < 0.001). In cowswith a silage-root crop type of feeding, productivity increased by 1.3 times, in cows with silage-hayconcentrate by 1.3 times, in cows with silage-haylage by 1.4 times, and in cows with silage-hay by 1.6times, respectively. Balancing the main diet with an antitoxic premix contributed to a slight increasein milk production from 3477–4426 kg per lactation in the first control groups to 5444–5999 kg perlactation in the second experimental groups. Subcutaneous injection of a plant biopreparation enhancedthe antitoxic effect of the premix, which also had a positive effect on the productivity of cows in thethird experimental groups, where productivity increased by an average of 1.3–1.7 times. Among cowsin the third experimental groups, the silage-hay type of feeding proved to be the best, milk productivityincreased by 1.7 times compared with the control group (P < 0.001). The production of environmentallysafe milk in areas of local contamination with heavy metals of technogenic, military origin requires theuse of new proven technological techniques with feeding in rations of various types of special premixes,which allows for maximum balance of feeding, restoration of homeostasis of the organism in whichheavy metals are incorporated, and increased cow productivity and milk production.