Effect of Different Levels of Organic Acids Supplementation on Feed Intake, Milk Yield and Milk composition of Dairy Cows during Thermal Stress

In many developing countries in the tropics, thermal stress results in lower feed intake, changes in energy metabolism, alterations in endocrine profiles of dairy cows which lead to animal health problems and production losses. Supplementation of organic acids can reduce the toxic metabolites and endocrine changes in the cow’s body during thermal stress. The present study was conducted at University Dairy Farm, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar to determine the effect of supplementing different levels of organic acids solution in drinking water on the milk yield, milk composition, milk somatic cell count (SCC), blood haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) of dairy cows during thermal stress. The solution of organic acids was prepared by dissolving 80g citric acid, 90g phosphoric acid, 50g lactic acid and 10g copper sulphate in one litre of distilled water. Twelve Holstein Friesian dairy cows (mid-lactation, 3 to 4 years old) having average body weight of 400kg were blocked into four groups on the basis of parity and milk yield. The cows were offered water without (group A) or with organic acids solution at the rate of 0.5, 1 or 1.5ml per litre of drinking water. The experiment was continued for 30 days along with two weeks adaptation period during the summer months of July and August, 2012. The addition of organic acids to the drinking water increased (P