Effect of Mixed Mineral-Enriched Essential Oils Supplementation on Milk Production and Feed Efficiency of Lactating Dairy Cows

Abstract

This study aimed to determine milk production and efficiency of feed utilization of a mixed mineral-enriched essential oils supplementation of lactating dairy cows. Forty-eight Holstein-Friesian cows with a 3.45±0.58 body condition score and 187.08±21.53 days in milk were randomly allocated to two dietary treatments for 46 days. Treatments consisted of no supplementation (CON) or supplementation (AGB) of 0.5% of Agromix Booster® in the Total Mix Ration (TMR). All cows were given the same TMR twice a day (the only difference was the presence or absence of Agromix Booster®). Daily monitoring of milk production, composition, and dry matter intake of cows was calculated and feed efficiency was determined. Compared with CON, cows fed AGB showed an increase in milk yield (P<0.05). However, no significant effects were detected on milk fat content and yield, protein content and yield, lactose content and yield, solid non-fat content, and total solids content (P>0.05). Furthermore, AGB supplementation increased solids non-fat and total solids yield (P<0.05). Dry matter intake and feed efficiency were not affected for dairy cows receiving AGB supplementation (P>0.05). The supplementation of mixed mineral-enriched essential oils (Agromix Booster®) at 0.5% of feed ration could improve milk yield but did not affect milk component content and feed efficiency of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows.