The effect of grain feed mixture with the addition of smectite tripolith on productivity and nitrogen use in calves

The article presents the results of research on feeding grain feed mixture to calves at an early age, which included: wheat turf - 60% and corn turf - 40%. In the diet of calves of the experimental group, 20 g of smectite tripolith per day per head was included in the grain feed mixture. The feeding ration included feeds prepared in the conditions of an agricultural organization: mixed grass hay, corn silage, mixed grass haylage and prepared grain feed mixture. The intake of metabolic energy and protein corresponded to the generally accepted norms of feeding. Feeding calves as part of the diet of grain feed mixture with the addition of smectite tripolith contributed to an increase in the average daily gain in calves of the experimental group. So, at the age of two months, they had an increase of 5.9%, at the age of four months by 11.1% compared to the control group. The costs of energy feed units per 1 kg of growth in calves in the experimental group were 5.4% less (at two months of age) and 10.1% less (at four months of age), respectively. In the experiment on the study of feed digestibility, it was found that 15.4% more nitrogen was retained in the body of calves of the experimental group than in control peers, which confirms their more intensive growth. Feeding calves at an early age of grain feed mixture with the addition of smectite tripolith in the amount of 20 g per day per head significantly contributes to a higher degree of nitrogen use of feed for productive purposes.