Effect of Probiotics Supplementation on the Performance of Lactating Crossbred Cows

Sixteen multifarious cows were selected on the basis of average daily milk yield and stage of lactation; they were divided into four groups (four cows in each group) with parity within each group. These cows were fed 10gm, 15gm and 20gm probiotics just before evening milk. The multi-strain probiotic used were containing four strains consist of bacteria and fungi namely Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces boulardii and Propionibacterium frendenreichii. It was found that, the use of probiotics proved to be effective in increasing milk production of lactating cows. Milk fat, milk protein and SNF content tended to be higher in cows supplemented with probiotics preparations. The appropriate level of 20 gm probiotic per day per animal was found effective. The economic advantage of probiotics depends on its relative prices and on the levels of milk production of the cows.


Introduction
cerevisiae, Saccharomyces boulardii) and filamentous fungi ( Aspergillus oryzae) being used for probiotic The term probiotic derived from the Greek word preparations.Yeast, because of their ability to ferment meaning `for life' and first introduced in 1953 by sugar is named saccharomyces (sugar fungi).In a well Kollath (Hamilton-Miller et al. 2003).Ray Fuller aerated sugar, the yeast grows and undergoes normal (1989) defined probiotic as "A live microbial feed aerobic respiration producing carbon dioxide and supplement, which beneficially affects the host animal water.The different types of probiotics have different by improving its intestinal microbial balance".potential for fermentation or metabolism by the intestinal According to currently adopted definition by FAO and micro flora.In livestock production, probiotics can be WHO, probiotics are; "live microorganism which employed to control pathogenic bacteria in the intestine when administered in adequate amount confers a tract, reduce methane emissions, enhance growth health benefit on the host".performance, immune regulation etc.The probiotics The most commonly used organisms in preparation may consist of single strain or can also probiotic preparations are the lactic acid bacteria have a mixture of different strains, which can be numbered (Lactobacillus, Streptococci, bifidobacteria).These up to nine.The probiotics can be presented in various are found in large numbers in the gut of healthy ways such as capsules, paste, powder or granules.animals and do not appear to affect them adversely.Iwanska et al. (2000) studied the effect of Fungal probiotics may produce their beneficial effects biologically active compounds on milk yield and in three ways by stimulation of indigenous fungi composition.Data were obtained on thirty (Huber, 1990), by increasing the number of multiparous Polish Black and White cows indicate that cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen (Dawson, 1990), by fat corrected milk yield, milk fat yield, milk protein improved rumen metabolism resulting from decreased yield, casein yield, lactose percentage, total solid, concentration of lactic acid which, in turn reduces solid-not-fat and somatic cell count were significantly rumen pH.Anaerobic fungi yeast (Saccharomyces higher.Meeske et al. (2002) found that addition of lactic acid bacterial inoculants to maize at ensiling Livestock Instructional Farm, Department of Animal improved the palatability, intake and the aerobic Husbandry and Dairying, Dr.P.D.K.V. Akola during stability of maize silage compared to control.Sablik the year 2009-10. (2002) conducted two studies to analyze the effect of Selection of Animals -Sixteen multifarious cows in 1026 their early to mid lactation stage (lactation number 2 to Yea-Sacc probiotic (composed of Saacromyces 6) and having an average daily two week pretrial milk cerevisiae) and Bioplex mineral mixture (Cu, Mn, Zn, yield of 2-3 liters were selected and divided into four and Cr) on milk yield, composition, reproductive groups (four animals in each group) in such a way that performance, and level of biochemical indices (Ca, P, the order of lactation and average milk yield of four K, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn and Se) in dairy cows.It was groups were more or less similar.The present observed that there was a significant increase in milk Yasuda and Fukata ( 2004) demonstrated effect Probiotic 20 g. of mixed feed containing dextran on total 37 Holstein Ingredients and formulation of diets -The total Friesian dairy cows.Cows were randomly divided into mixed ration consisted of green berseem (Trifolium two groups; Group A -control, group B -fed with 30 alexandrium), maize (Zea mays), Jowar straw, and 0.5 g/head/day of mixed feed containing supplemental kg concentrate mixture for every 1 kg milk dextran for one year.They observed that milk yield of produced/cow/day.Also 3 kg silage /cow/day was group B were greater than the yield of group A. Also given.The concentrate mixture used for this study was after the supplementation, concentrations and total "Sugras " manufactured by "M/s Maharashtra Agro amounts of fat, protein and SNF significantly Industries Development Corporation Ltd.In addition, increased more in group B than group A.
30g sodium bicarbonate as buffer was given to all the Alshaikh et al. (2007) indicated that cows animals.consuming those diets supplemented with yeast The multi-strain probiotic used were containing culture tented to decrease their dry matter intake and to four strains consist of bacteria and fungi namely increase their milk yield.Cows fed with YC Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 2 supplemented diets produced more milk and 4% FCM Saccharomyces boulardii and Propionibacterium than those fed either the YC supplemented or the frendenreichii.Multi-strain probiotic was supplied by 1 control diet.Kudrna et al. (2007) noted that yeast Wockhardt Co. Mumbai namely Biovet -YC Gold.supplementation significantly improved the milk yield Four complete diets were formulated using d e s p i t e r e d u c i n g t h e d r y m a t t e r i n t a k e .Sugras (concentrates) and forage maize, berseem with Chandrasekharaiah et al. (2007) concluded that concentrate: forage ratio 60:40 on a dry matter basis.characteristic, sources, production of prebiotics as The total mixed ration fed was the same for all four well as the influence of prebiotics on animal groups.Remaining three groups consisted multi-strain production have potential to increase milk yield and probiotic 10g (T ), 15g (T ), 20g (T ).The experimental (1998) revealed that numerical responses in DM animals were fed with concentrate mixture just before intake and milk yield were greater for cows fed 20 evening milk when animals are brought to the parlor g/day of yeast than for 10 g/day of yeast.Kim et al. for milking.The concentrate mixture was fed at the (2001) observed that total income per milk yield was rate of 0.5kg for every kg milk produced /day/animal.highly improved by the supplementation of 0.5% For two weeks preliminary trial period only total probitics ( Economix).mixed ration were fed.After two weeks preliminary The present investigation was conducted with period probiotics were substituted with total mixed major objective to study the effect of probiotics on ration.milk production, to determine the effect of probiotics Recording of observations Milk production: Milk production was recorded on milk composition of lactating cows and to estimate daily both in the morning and evening for whole the cost of probiotics feeding.experimental period.

Materials and Methods
Milk composition: Milk samples were drawn for analysis from morning and evening milking once in The present investigation was undertaken at Effect of probiotics supplementation on milk fat every week throughout the experimental period.Fat (%): It is indicated from the table 2 that average fat content of milk was determined by Gerbers method as per cent of pre trial period (two weeks) was 3.46, 3.68, described in IS-1224Part I (1977).Protein per cent 3.58 and 3.67% respectively.This means that there was determined as per ISI Handbook of Food analysis were not significant differences between all treatments SP:18 (Part-IX):1981.SNF per cent was determined before starting experiment.After completion of as per IS:1479(Part-I):1960.
experimental period of eight weeks, the fat percent of Statistical Analysis: The data was analyzed by T , T , T and T were 3.42, 3.65, 3.82 and 4.15% statistical method Randomized Block Design (RBD).respectively.This shows that treatment T was 4

Results and Discussion
significantly superior over remaining treatments

Effect of Probiotics supplementation on milk
.Though there were no significant differences between production: Table 1 shows mean values of weekly treatments T and T , both are moderately significant 2 3 average milk production for the pretrial period of two over T The effect of probiotics on fat per cent of 1.
weeks, trial period of six weeks and post trial period of treated cows was significant during experimental two weeks for treatments T , T , T , and T .
period.There were differences of 0.73, 0.5, 0.33 and 0.17 % in treatment T and T , T and T , T and T , T with the results of those reported by Yasuda and Fukata ( 2004) that the amount of total fat in milk of treated group was significantly higher than for control group.

Table-2. Effect of probiotics supplementation on chemical composition of milk. (%)
It is observed from above table that average milk production of pre trial period (two weeks) was 32.81, 34.14, 38.11 and 38.1 Kg for treatments T , T , T , and T respectively.This means that there were not 4 significant differences between all treatments before starting experiment.However, after starting feeding probiotics from third week changes in milk production was observed gradually.It is observed that milk Effect of probiotics supplementation on milk production of T , T , T and T was 35.85, 38.79, 39.51  protein per cent for pre trial period (two weeks) was and 43.51 kg respectively after treatment period of six 3.3, 3.3, 3.3 and 3.33 respectively.This means that weeks.If these values compared with pretrial period it there were not significant differences between all four indicates that there is gradually increase in milk treatments while starting actual experiment.Mean production among treatments starting from T to T .weeks trial period were 3.31, 3.31, 3.33 and 3.35 % respectively.Among treatments, T was significantly 4 respectively.This shows that there were differences of superior, treatments T , T were moderately superior from this difference that treatment T was significantly 4 production improvements for the treatments supplied superior over treatments T , T , T .While, there was no 1 2 3 with probiotics were observed throughout the any marked differences in treatments T and T , but 3 2 experimental period.both have higher values than T .For the experimental trial period, animals in 1 These results are in accordance with Singh and experimental group produced on an average 8, 10, Kumar (1996), they showed that addition of probiotic 21.36 % more milk/week compared to control group.effect of probiotics preparations started reflecting in T and T , respectively.It means that there were not milk production and milk composition even during the 3 4 significant differences between all four treatments first week of supplementation and marked increase while starting actual experiment.Mean solids-not-fat was noticed from fourth week onwards.The per cent of eight weeks of feeding for treatments T , T , appropriate level of 20 gm probiotic per day per 1 2 T and T were 8.82, 8.83, 8.83 and 8.85 %, respectively.animal was found effective.The economic advantage 3 4 of probiotics depends on its relative prices and on the This reveals that there was average higher solids-notlevels of milk production of the cows.fat per cent for T than other treatments groups viz.T , 41 T and T .This shows that treatment T is slightly Authors are thankful to The Head, Dept. of T , T and T are at par with treatments T and there was 1 2 3 4 Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Dr.PDKV, Akola, no any marked difference between T , T and T .These for providing necessary facilities.results are in agreement with Yasuda et al. (2007), they found that the amount of solids-not-fat in milk of References treated group was significantly increased in 1.
feeding are given in Table 3. prebiotics in the elderly.Post Graduate Medical J. 80: 47-57.
1026experiment was conducted by using Randomized yield and FCM when 15 g of Yea-Sacc was given to Block Design (RBD) with four treatments T -Without the cows in both experiments.There was also 1 significant increase in milk fat and protein yield in Probiotic (control), T -Multi-strain Probiotic 10 g.

Table - 1. Effect of probiotics supplementation on
Above table reveals that average Gradual improvement was observed in overall milk solids-not-fat per cent for pre trial period (two weeks) composition with supplementation of probiotics.The was 8.81, 8.81, 8.82 and 8.83 % for treatments T , T ,

Table - 3. Cost of probiotics on supplementation
Polakova.; P. Lang.; J. Dolezal.(2007).The was found most effective with cost required for per kg effect of different yeast strains on milk yield, fatty acid and physiological parameters in dairy cows.In 57 Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal th milk produced.profile