Inclusion of Fennel Herbaceous Flavours in Total Mixed Rations Increased Dry Matter Intake without Affecting Health, Milk Quality and Fatty Acid Composition of Lactation Cow

Dietary flavour and taste may affect voluntary intake of lactation cows. The current study was designed to investigate effect of inclusion of flavour additive in total mixed rations (TMR) on dry matter (DM) intake, milk yield and quality, milk fatty acid composition and general health related blood biochemical parameters. Total 45 lactation Holstein cows were assigned to three groups (n=15 per group) based on lactation yield and body condition. After a transition period the cows were fed with the following diets for 8 weeks: 1) a control TMR (1.45 McalNEl and 151 g CP/kg DM); 2) the control TMR plus 3 g/d/cow mixed Luctarom additives containing fennel herbaceous flavours and sweetener tastes (Luctarom A); 3) the control TMR plus 50 g/d/cow mixed Luctarom additives containing herbalmilk flavours and some other bioactive agents (Luctarom B). Data of milk yield and DM intake and samples of milk were collected weekly. The milk samples were used for milk quality and fatty acids composition analysis. Total lipids were extracted from milk and methylated for determination of fatty acids methyl esters by using a gas chromatography equipped with capillary column. At the end of feeding study blood samples were taken for analyzing general health related parameters. From the study it was found that inclusion of Luctarom A to the TMR increased (P<0.05) average daily DM intake (18.53 kg) compared to the control (17.75 kg) and Luctarom B (17.94 kg) groups. The average daily milk yield was 22.6 kg, 22.0kg and 21.1kg for Luctarom A, Luctarom B and the control groups, respectively. The differences among the treatments were statistically not significant (P>0.05). Inclusion of Luctarom additives did not affect (P>0.05) milk quality and major fatty acid composition with an exception that Luctarom B group had less (P<0.05) milk lactose compared to the control. The general health related blood serum parameters of all experimental groups were in normal ranges for healthy cows. Within the normal ranges both Luctarom additive groups had relatively larger (P<0.05) blood serum triglycerides (TG) compared to the control, whereas Luctarom B group had larger (P<0.05) blood total protein (TP) or albumin compared to the control or Luctarom A, respectively. In conclusion, inclusion of Luctarom containg fennel herbaceous flavours and sweetener tastes to TMR of lactation cows significantly increased DM intake and tended to increase milk yield without negatively affecting animal health, milk quality and fatty acid composition.