Increase in meat productivity of young cattle and horses when using environmentally friendly feed additives

Abstract

The article presents the outcomes of studies confirming the feasibility of using zeolite-containing additives with the objective to optimize the diet of young cattle and horses by the content of minerals in it in order to increase their meat productivity. The research has been conducted in the Republic of Tatarstan. Laboratory studies have confirmed that in terms of hazard the zeolite-containing feed additive belongs to the fourth class of chemicals, specifically, low-toxic compounds in accordance with the requirements of State Standard 12.1.007.76. Scientific and economic experiments have established that the use of a zeolite-containing additive in the diets of young cattle and horses during a store period contributed to an increase in their average daily growth by 10.8 and 12.0 % and slaughter weight by 7.4 and 6.3 % (p<0.05). The slaughter yield in animals of the experimental groups was 54.0 and 58.9 %. The profitability of beef and horse meat production was 17.4 and 19.3 % respectively.