Modern strategies in dairy cows nutrition (Scientific Review)

The field of animal production, especially dairy cattle projects, has witnessed remarkable development in the use of modern natural and safe alternatives to improve animal health and productive efficiency. Among the most important of these alternatives are plant feed additives (phytobiotics) and feed enzymes due to their ability to improve digestion and increase feed utilization efficiency without relying on traditional methods of adding antibiotics. Enzymes play a vital role in improving digestion, especially fiber digestion, and stimulate rumen microbial activity, which leads to enhanced energy production, improved feed conversion efficiency, and increased milk production. In addition, they reduce nutrient losses and prevent some digestive problems and acidosis, making them an important additive in high-producing dairy cow rations. Plant additives (phytobiotics) enhance health and immunity due to their content of essential oils and phenolic compounds that act as antioxidants. Recent studies have shown that plant additives enhance milk production, improve rumen microbial balance, act as anti-inflammatory agents, and reduce rumen gas emissions (methane). Although antibiotics act rapidly compared to plant additives, they cause major digestive disturbances, bacterial resistance, and chemical residues in meat and milk at undesirable concentrations. Meanwhile, plant additives provide a good and safe alternative that sustainably enhances productivity and animal health without environmental or health risks, making them the globally preferred alternative in modern animal production systems. Therefore, the inclusion of phytobiotics with enzymes achieves advanced management strategies to enhance the health and productivity efficiency of dairy cows, thus achieving a balance between biosecurity and economic efficiency. This approach aligns with food safety management systems and directs progress toward more effective and sustainable feeding systems.