The Effect of Saponin Extract on Production Performance, Some Blood Parameters and Rumen Protozoa in Holstein Dairy Cows

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of saponin extract on production performance, some blood parameters and ruminal protozoan in Holstein dairy cows. In this study, out of 20 Holstein cows in second calving,  two groups including, one group with an average milk production of 37.94 kg per day and lactation days was 98.62 and the second group with an average milk production of 38.96 kg per day and lactation days was 98.45,  for a 30-day trial period (Two 15-day periods) was used. Treatments included 1- control (the group that did not use saponin extract) and the second group used 8 ml of saponin extract extracted from mint, licorice and gensing plants. After one period of use, in order to eliminate the effect of the previous treatments, the base diet was used for 20 days and in the second period, the place of the treatments was changed. Feed intake was recorded daily in the last week of each experiment. Milk production per lactation was recorded on days 5, 10 and 15 of the experiment. In order to determine the milk composition, on day 15 of the experiment, a 50 ml sample was taken from the milk of each cow in the morning. To evaluate blood parameters, sampling was performed on day 15 in each period. The results showed that dry matter intake, milk production, milk fat percentage, milk protein percentage, milk somatic cell count and milk urea nitrogen were not affected by the addition of saponin extract (p<0.05). Triglyceride concentration was significantly reduced compared to the control group with the addition of saponin extract (p<0.05). Also, with the addition of saponin extract, acetate concentration, total volatile fatty acids and the number of ruminal protozoa were significantly reduced (p<0.05). In general, saponin extract had no negative effect on the performance of Holstein dairy cows.