Influence of feed additive with pectin oligosaccharides in rations on the physiological state and live weight increase of calves

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of a feed additive with pectin oligosaccharides in diets on the physiological state and live weight gain of Bessonovsky dairy type calves. Objectives: to study the effect of a bifidogenic feed additive obtained by hydrolyzing apple pomace with Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast in a whey medium. The developed bifidogenic feed additive is an additive that regulates the balance of microflora in the digestive tract by suppressing the activity of pathogenic microflora and stimulating the growth of its own beneficial microflora - bifido- and lactobacilli. The feed additive is a product of hydrolysis of apple pomace with Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast in a whey medium. The object of the study is 1-month-old Bessonovsky dairy type calves. The study was conducted in the Belgorod Region in the SPK Kolkhoz imeni Gorina. Two groups of animals were selected for the study: the 1st – control, the 2nd – ex-perimental (formed by the method of pairs-analogues) with 12 heads in each. The calves of the control group were fed the rations adopted on the farm, and the experimental group was additionally given a bifidogenic feed additive. The dosage of the additive was 200 g per head per day for 60 days. During the study, the animals were examined, their physiological condition was monitored. The study revealed an increase in the live weight gain of the calves of the experimental group by 3.9 % compared to the control. A more pronounced resistance of the calves of the experimental group to diarrhea, an increase in the ap-petite of the animals were noted. We recommend using a bifidogenic feed additive with pectin oligosaccha-rides in the rations of calves during rearing in order to increase the live weight gain.