The Effect of Herbal Feed Additives in the Diet of Dairy Goats on Intestinal Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) Count
Joanna Foksowicz-Flaczyk,
Jacek Antoni Wójtowski,
Romualda Danków,
Przemysław Mikołajczak,
Jan Pikul,
Agnieszka Gryszczyńska,
Zdzisław Łowicki,
Karolina Zajączek,
Daniel Stanisławski
Affiliations
Joanna Foksowicz-Flaczyk
Department of Innovative Biomaterials and Nanotechnologies, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznań, Poland
Jacek Antoni Wójtowski
Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Poznań University of Life Science, Złotniki, ul. Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland
Romualda Danków
Department of Dairy and Process Engineering, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 31/33, 60-624 Poznań, Poland
Przemysław Mikołajczak
Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Kolejowa 2, 62-064 Plewiska, Poland
Jan Pikul
Department of Dairy and Process Engineering, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 31/33, 60-624 Poznań, Poland
Agnieszka Gryszczyńska
Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Kolejowa 2, 62-064 Plewiska, Poland
Zdzisław Łowicki
Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Kolejowa 2, 62-064 Plewiska, Poland
Karolina Zajączek
Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Kolejowa 2, 62-064 Plewiska, Poland
Daniel Stanisławski
Computer Laboratory, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wołyńska 33, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Sixty dairy goats of the Polish white improved breed were randomly assigned to five feeding groups of twelve animals each. The animals received a supplement containing seven herbs at 20 or 40 g/animal/day (experimental groups 1 and 2) and a supplement containing nine herbs at 20 or 40 g/animal/day (experimental groups 3 and 4)m, along with pelleted concentrate feed. Group 5 (the control group) received pelleted feed without any herbal supplements. A significant effect of herbal feed additive on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count was observed (p p p p Lactobacillus fermentum was identified in the faecal samples of goats receiving the herbal additive, but not in the controls. Genetic identification of the microorganisms isolated from the faeces of the experimental goats did not reveal the presence of harmful mould spores, although spores of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus were detected in the controls.
