Effect of supplementing essential oils containing herbs to total mixed rations on the performance of growing male crossbred calves
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Date
2017
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Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana
Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the effect of herbal feed additives (HFAs) containing oils supplemented at 1-3% of total mixed rations (TMR) on DM basis on the methane production potential and nutrient utilization in male crossbred calves. TMR with different roughage to concentrate ratio of 80:20, 75:25, 70:30 and 65:35 on DM basis were formulated. The roughage portion was made up of wheat straw and maize green fodder in 70:30 ratio. In vitro gas production studies conducted in a 4x3x3 factorial design conclusively revealed that the best response with respect to net gas production, digestibility of nutrients (OMD, NDFD and DMD), methane production, VFA production, ME availability and other fermentation parameters from TMRs with different roughage to concentrate ratios was observed in jaiphal supplemented at the rate of 1% of TMR with R: C ratio of 65:35 on DM basis. This was followed by 4x4 latin square design to assess the impact of supplementing jaiphal suva and haldi at the rate of 1% of DM basis in TMR (R:C::65:35) on the nutrient utilization of male crossbred calves. The herb supplementation did not have any significant effect on digestibility of various nutrients and percent nitrogen retention in male cross bred calves. The blood biochemical profile for various parameters did not show any significant effect on herb supplementation i.e. herbs have no deleterious effect on animal health except supplementation of herb suva in male cross bred calves significantly increased (P<0.05) the alkaline phosphatase activity(AKP). Herbs supplementation has stimulatory effect on rumen fermentation parameters (TN, TVFA, NPN NH3-N) which were (P<0.05) higher than control group. The results conclusively revealed that supplementing TMR (R:C::65:35) with jaiphal @ 1% mitigated the methane production without affecting digestibility of nutrients.
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