Effect of feeding with fresh carrots on milk quality

Carrots are a natural source of beta-carotene. Cows are very happy to eat carrots. Beta carotene is a provitamin of vitamin A essential for many functions in the body. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fresh carrots nutritional supplementation on milk quality of Simmental cows. The experiment was carried out on 28 Simmental dairy cows from one farm, where 14 cows were supplementary fed with 5 kg carrots per cow/day. Non-supplemented 14 cows served as a control group. The milk samples were analyzed for the contents of milk fat, protein, lactose, non-fat dry matter and the number of somatic cells from bulk tank samples. All observed cows were pregnant from two to five months and fed in the same way. The average content of milk components in examined group, contents of milk fat, protein, non-fat dry matter, lactose and the number of somatic cells were 4.08%, 3.54%, 9.11%, 4.70% and 80.000 cells/ml, respectively. By analyzing the milk from the control group, the values of milk components were 4.12%, 3.51%, 9.15%, 4.65% and 92.000 cells/ml, respectively. There were no differences in any milk components between the compared groups. These data indicate that β-carotene supplementation to cows does not lead to an increase in milk components. It is necessary to examine and define the amount of fresh carrots needed in exchange for beta-carotene injection preparations in the therapy of reproductive disorders.