Study of feedstuff and feed additives for nutritional value and safety for farm animals

The article presents the analysis of the results of laboratory research of stored feeds. In order to obtain objective information about the nutritional value of feed and its variability under the influence of various factors, it is necessary to know the content of the main nutrients in it. The main goal of zootechnical analysis is to determine the actual content of nutrients, minerals and biologically active substances in feed. The main objective of the research was to study the quality indicators of harvested feed in the Vologda Region. In 2023, 211 thousand hectares of perennial grasses planted in previous years and coverless grasses were used for fodder conservation, which is 1.7 thousand hectares less than in 2022, 13.4 thousand hectares of annual grasses (-0.4 thousand hectares compared to 2022). Corn crops area increased by 0.8 thousand hectares compared to the previous year (5.2 thousand hectares), and the area of natural and improved hayfields and pastures decreased by 5 thousand hectares (8.9 thousand hectares). In 2023, 1,628 thousand hectares of succulent fodder were harvested in the Vologda Region, which is 10.6% higher than in 2022. The share of hay making decreased by 23.7%, and that of haylage increased by 3.8%. During the review period, the content of organic acids in silages was within the permissible limits: butyric acid was 0.08 % (the norm is 0.1%), the ratio of lactic acid to acetic one was 3.2-3.7. Mycotoxin content was following: excess of Aflatoxin B1 in 18% of samples in 2022, in 23% of samples in 2023; excess of Ochratoxin A in 42% of samples in 2023.