Production Performance and Milk Quality of Holstein Friesian Dairy Cow with the Utilization of Eggshell Meal Extract as a Source of Minerals

Abstract

Milk production hinges on high-quality feed; minerals are indispensable in concentrate feed.Eggshells, a readily available by-product, contain essential minerals like calcium (Ca), phosphorous (P), and magnesium (Mg).Our study investigated eggshell meal as a mineral source for dairy cows.We assessed different mineral sources' impact on Holstein Friesian dairy cows' performance, blood Ca levels, and milk's macro mineral quality.The study employed a completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 treatments and 5 replicates, involving 15 Holstein Friesian dairy cows aged 4-5 years with an average weight of 500kg.Treatments included commercial mineral source concentrate feed (T1), eggshell meal mineral source concentrate feed (T2), and eggshell meal extract mineral source concentrate feed (T3).Parameters included milk yield, dry matter intake (DMI), feed conversion efficiency (FCE), blood Ca levels, and milk quality.The study revealed that using eggshell meal significantly increased milk yield and FCE compared to commercial minerals.However, there were no significant differences in blood Ca levels, physical milk qualities (pH, specific gravity, and viscosity), chemical qualities (protein and fat), and Mg content.The eggshell meal extract treatment showed milk's highest Ca, P, and K content.In conclusion, our findings support using eggshell meal and extracts as a valuable source of Ca minerals in dairy cow diets, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional mineral supplements.

Access to Document

Other files and links

• Link to publication in Scopus
• Open Access Version Available

Fingerprint