Use of organic fodder phyto-mixtu­res of grasses as a promising direction of research in fodder production

Abstract

Goal. To study the species composition of drug-fodder herbs with the content of biologically active substances as natural animal growth stimulators to replace premixes, which will ensure the production of organic animal husbandry products. Methods. Field — to determine the yield of drug-fodder herbs; laboratory — to conduct chemical analysis of dry mass; analytical — to process the results obtained; mathematical-statistical — to determine the reliability of the obtained results. Results. The value of Echinacea purpurea, milfoil, coriander, and Moldavian dragonhead is caused by their technological suitability for obtaining raw materials for the formation of phyto-compositions in animal feed to replace artificial growth stimulants. The yield of green and dry mass in these species is quite high and amounts to 20.8 and 5.3 t/ha in Echinacea purpurea, Moldavian dragonhead — 14.5 and 3.5, milfoil — 11.7–3.0, and coriander— 1.05 t/ha of seeds. The main biologically active substances are: polysaccharides in Echinacea purpurea (2–8%), essential oil — in milfoil (0.3–3.1%), Moldavian dragonhead (0.33%), and coriander (1.5%), and vitamin P (rutin) 145 mg/100 g. Conclusions. Echinacea purpurea, milfoil, coriander, and Moldavian dragonhead are promising crops for their use as phyto-mixtures in animal feed to replace artificial growth stimulants (premixes).