L'impiego della farina di foglie di carciofo disidratate (Cinara Scolymus L.) nell'alimentazione delle bovine da latte

The Authors refer the results of investigations about the use of dehydrated artichoke leaves meal in the feeding of dairy cattle. The by-product, included in the mixed feed at the doses of 6% and 12% in substitution of dehydrated alfalfa meal is able to induce a improvement of milk production (resp. + 9,00% and + 17,00%), of milk fat (resp. + 9,50% and + 20,50%), of milk total protein (resp. + 4,50% and + 8,50%) and of reproductive efficiency evaluated by the number of services per conception (resp. 1,70 and 1,50 vs 2,10), the calving to first heat interval (resp. 40, 10 and 36, 32 d vs 45, 00), the calving to first insemination interval (resp. 71,50 and 65,00 d vs 76,47) and the calving to conception interval (resp. 90,38 and 82,46 d vs 100,00). At the same doses the product has favourable conditioned the health status of dairy cattle with a reduction (30 - 40%) of metritis.