Assessment of the adaptogenic properties of European Red deer antlers under chronic stress in Holstein-Frisian cows in a dairy complex

The impact of chronic stress on the body of a highly productive animal has a negative effect, which is usually expressed in a decrease in productivity. A promising method for reducing chronic stress in animals are natural adaptogens, which include antlers. The aim of the work was to evaluate the effectiveness of using a dietary supplement made from European red deer antlers on the level of adaptation in Holstein-Friesian cows under chronic stress at a dairy complex. The studies were conducted from 2022 to 2023. The objects of the study were Holstein-Friesian cows that showed signs of chronic stress. The study animals were given freezedried powder from European red deer antlers. Using the pair-analogue method, a control (n = 10) and experimental (n = 10) groups were formed. The effectiveness of the supplement was assessed by a leukogram. Blood samples for analysis were taken from the tail vein on the 1st, 30th and 40th days of the experiment. Morphological blood analysis was performed using the Abaxis HM5 automatic veterinary hematology analyzer. At the beginning of the experiment, animals showed neutrophilia and eosinopenia, indicating chronic stress in animals. The powder was administered individually orally at 10 grams once a day for 30 days. The study showed a 33.7% decrease in segmented neutrophils compared to the control group, in which the corresponding indicators remained virtually unchanged and tended to increase dynamically. By the end of the experiment, the eosinophil volume in the experimental group was more than 2 times higher than in the control group. The results obtained allowed us to conclude that the antler powder is effective in reducing stress and anxiety in animals.

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