Effect of Herbal Feed Supplement Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus L.) on the Performance of Lactating Crossbred Cows and Heifers
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Date
2020-09-02
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MPUT, UDAIPUR
Abstract
The present study was carried out at the Livestock Farm, Rajasthan College of
Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur (Rajasthan). Two experiments simultaneously was
conducted 90 days each to investigate the effect of herbal feed supplement Shatavari
(Asparagus racemosus L.) on the performance of lactating crossbred cows and
heifers.
Experiment I:
A total of 15 lactating crossbred cows in early stage of lactation, on the basis
of nearness in their body weight and milk yield, were divided into three treatment
groups of five animals each. Out of these, one group served as control (T1) group in
which all animals were offered wheat straw ad lib. + 10 kg green berseem +
concentrate mixture wherein no supplementation was given. Cows in treatment
groups T2 and T3 were subjected to Shatavari supplementation @ 150 and 200 mg/kg
BW/day, respectively.
The average daily DMI was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T3 and T2 as
compared to T1 group, however, there was significant (P<0.05) difference between T2
and T3. The DMI/100kg body weight was non-significant between control and both
supplemented groups. The average daily CPI and DCPI were significantly (P<0.05)
higher in T3 and T2 groups as compared to T1 group however, non-significant
difference between T3 and T2 groups. The CPI/100kg and DCPI/100kg body weight
were non- significant between control and both supplemented groups. A similar trend
was also observed in daily TDNI and TDNI /100kg body weight. The VWI and TWI
were significantly (P<0.01) higher in T3 and T2 as compared T1 group. A similar trend
was also observed in VWI/kg DMI and TWI/kg DMI. The TWI/kg milk yield was
non-significant among the treatment groups. The digestibility coefficient of all the
nutrients except EE were significantly (P<0.05) higher in both supplemented groups
than control group. However, digestibility coefficient of EE was non significantly
different between control (T1) and both supplemented groups, T2 and T3. The daily milk yield and FCM yield was significantly (P<0.05) higher in both supplemented
groups than control group. Percent Fat, SNF, TS, lactose, protein and SCM yield were
significantly (P<0.01) higher in both supplemented groups as compared to control
group. Body weight gain per day (gm) was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T2 and T3
as compared to T1 (control). Reproductive performance like first postpartum oestrus
days, service period and service per conception were significantly (P<0.05) lower in
both supplemented group than control group. Conception rate was also higher in T3
and T2 than T1. Mean daily return over feed cost from sale of milk was highest in T3
then in T2 and lowest in T1 group.
EXPERIMENT II
Fifteen crossbred heifers were divided into three groups of five animals each
and randomly allotted in three dietary treatments as follows:
All animals in T1 (control) group were offered wheat straw ad lib. + 2 kg
green berseem + concentrate mixture wherein no supplementation was given. Cows in
treatment groups T2 and T3 were subjected to Shatavari powder supplementation @
150 and 200 mg/kg BW/day, respectively. The daily DM intake, CP intake and DCP
intake were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 as compared to T1. DM intake per
100kg body weight, CPI/100kg body weight and DCPI/100kg body weight were nonsignificant
among all treatment groups. A similar trend was also observed in daily
TDN intake and TDNI/100kg body weight. The VWI and TWI were significantly
(P<0.01) higher in T3 group than that of T2 and T1 group. However, there was nonsignificant
difference between T1 and T2. Digestibility coefficient of DM, OM and
NFE were non significant among all treatment groups. However, digestibility
coefficient of CP, CF and EE were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 than T1 group.
But non-significant differences were found between T2 and T3. Average body weight
gain was significantly (P<0.01) higher in both supplemented groups than control
group. However, there was significant (P<0.05) difference between T2 and T3. Age at
first service (days) was significantly (P<0.05) lower in T3 as compared to T1 group.
However, there was non-significant difference between T2 and T3. The feed cost per
kg gain was lowest in T3 then in T2 and highest in T1.
Therefore it can be concluded that Shatavari powder supplementation is
economically viable and beneficial and it could serve as potential tool to improve
milk production, reproductive performance and net return from lactating crossbred
cows and heifers
Description
Effect of Herbal Feed Supplement Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus L.) on the Performance of Lactating Crossbred Cows and Heifers
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Citation
Bhinda R. And Choudhary J.L.