Аннотация
The article presents the results of a study evaluating the effectiveness of the integrated application of air ionization and essential oils in the technology of rearing young calves. The aim of the work was a veterinary-sanitary assessment of the influence of these factors on the parameters of the air environment and the condition of young stock under industrial livestock production. The study was carried out using the principles of evidence-based veterinary sanitation and included sanitary-hygienic, microbiological, and zootechnical assessment of calf housing conditions. The experiment was conducted under production conditions with the formation of control and experimental groups of 15 calves each, kept under identical feeding, housing, and care conditions. The set of measures included air ionization and aerosol spraying of natural essential oils. Effectiveness was assessed by the dynamics of microclimatic indicators and the level of microbial contamination of air in the animals’ breathing zone, as well as by indirect indicators of the calves’ physiological status. The trials were performed according to a single protocol for 20 days with repetition in different seasonal periods, which ensured assessment of reproducibility of the results obtained. It was established that the integrated application of air ionization and essential oils exerts a pronounced sanitary-corrective effect on the air environment of calf barns, manifested by a reduction in microbial load and stabilization of certain microclimate parameters, primarily relative humidity and the sanitary quality of indoor air. The data obtained indicate a reduced potential risk of respiratory pathology and the formation of more favorable conditions for physiological adaptation and maintenance of resistance in calves. The study results confirm the feasibility of implementing an integrated air-ionization and aromatherapy technology in industrial calf rearing as an effective element of veterinary-sanitary optimization of the air environment.