Effect of Feeding Herbs as Feed Additive on Nutrient Utilization Efficiency in Sheep
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Date
2010
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Department of Animal Nutrition College of Veterinary and Animal Science Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner – 334 001 (Rajasthan)
Abstract
In an attempt to assess the possibilities of utilization of herbs viz. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Bhringraj (Eclipta alba) and Jiwanti (Leptadenia reticulate) as feed additive to achieve maximum efficiency of feed utilization from wheat straw based complete feed, an experiment was conducted in two phases. In first phase, chemical composition was determined for each herb and feed ingredients used under study and supplemented in the complete feed at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% level for in vitro studies. The IVDMD, IVOMD and in vitro total gas production were determined for complete feed using rumen liquor obtained from sheep to arrive at optimum level of incorporation of herbs in complete feed. In second phase, feeding trial was undertaken on 20 rams fed complete feed with optimum level of each herb selected on the basis of results of in vitro studies, to assess the in vivo efficiency of utilization of nutrients. Rumen and haemato-biochemical parameters were also studied to ascertain the effect of supplementation of herbs as feed additive on rumen fermentation pattern and physiological status of health of experimental animals.
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