Effects of the Lactobacillus sakei KTU05-6 supplement on milk production and ruminal processes in feeding dairy cows

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Lactobacillus sakei KTU05-6 supplement non milk production and ruminal processes in feeding dairy cows. Trial and control groups received identical diets, however the trial group received also 100 g of the supplement per head daily (10⁹ colonyforming units (CFU) of L. sakei/head/d) during 65 days. It was found that at the end of the experimental milk yield and content of milk fat, protein, lactose and urea in the trial group did not differ significantly compared to the control group ( P>0.05). At the end of the experiment ruminal pH, total and individual volatile fatty acids, total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, D(-)-lactic acid, reduction activity of bacteria, glucose fermentation reaction, protozoa number, total count of lactobacilliand enterobacteria in trial group had no significant difference (P>0.05) from those characteristics in the control group. We conclude that 10⁹ CFU/head/dLactobacillus sakei KTU5-6 may not be beneficial for dairy cows, as positive effect on the milk yield and milk composition, on the activity of the ruminal fermentation and microorganisms of rumen fluid was not observed in the studied animals.