Advisor: Kahate, Dr. P. A.Authors: TALAN, VAISHNAVI VINOD.2022-08-162022-08-162022-09-29Citation: TALAN, VAISHNAVI VINOD. (2021). Supplementation of shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) on productive performance of indigenous milch cows. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. M. Sc. 2021. Print. xiv, 94p. (Unpublished).https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810186381Description: The present investigation was conducted at Livestock Instructional Farm, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairy Science, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola during the year 2020-2021. During present investigation treatment was provided with T1 - Dry fodder + 10 Kg Green fodder+ concentrate (control), Dry fodder + 10Kg Green fodder + concentrate + 20 gm shatavari (T2), Dry fodder + 10 Kg Green fodder + concentrate + 30 gm shatavari (T3) and Dry fodder+10 Kg Green fodder concentrate + 40 gm shatavari (T4) to 20 selected experimental cows.Abstract: The study entitled “Supplementation of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) on Productive Performance of Indigenous Milch Cows” was conducted for 120 days. Twenty healthy lactating indigenous cows were selected and divided into 4 groups i.e. control (T1), treatment (T2), (T3) and (T4) on the basis of milk yield, parity and body weight for this study. These groups were allotted to four different supplementary treatment namely T1 - Dry fodder + 10 Kg Green fodder+ concentrate (control), Dry fodder + 10Kg Green fodder + concentrate + 20 gm shatavari (T2), Dry fodder + 10 Kg Green fodder + concentrate + 30 gm shatavari (T3) and Dry fodder+10 Kg Green fodder concentrate + 40 gm shatavari (T4) during 120 days feeding trial. All cows were offered a fixed quantity of green fodder and concentrate as per thumb rule over the experimental period. The data were analyzed by randomized block design. It is observed that the per cent protein, fat, carbohydrates, saponins and ash in shatavari root powder were 21.9, 6.26, 36.9, 4.0 and 6.61 per cent, respectively. The feed intake and dry matter intake were significantly influenced due to supplementation of 40 gm shatavari root powder. Higher intake of feed and DM per 100 kg body weight were noticed in treatment T4 and lowest in T1. The average daily intake of water during experimental period was 25.50, 26.20, 27.40 and 27.68 litres per cow in T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups respectively. Higher intake of water per 100 kg body weight was noticed in treatment T4 and lowest in T1. The overall mean daily milk yield per cow in 1st week was 6.00, 6.44, 6,85 and 7.16 kg for T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups respectively. The milk yield was also increased significantly (P<0.05) in all weeks. The overall mean peak yield of the cows of T3 and T4 group (7.690 ± 1.172 and 8.640 ± 1.011 kg) were higher than the T2 and T1 groups (7.20 ± 1.164 and 6.400 ± 0.899 kg). The mean number of days required to attain peak yield in cows of T1, T2, T3 and T4 group were 41.400 ± 1.122, 53.400 ± 0.872, 57.400 ± 0.872 and 61.800 ± 0.800 days, respectively. The cows of T1 group attained peak yields significantly earlier than the cows of T2, T3 and T4 group (P<0.05). It is observed that, the effect of 40 gm of shatavari root powder supplementation was observed significant on fat, protein, lactose, total solids and SNF of milk composition. The fat content of milk was 4.03, 4.32, 4.42 and 4.50 percent. The protein and lactose contents were 3.37 and 4.45, 3.64 and 4.82, 3.67 and 5.09, and 3.69 and 5.20 percent in treatment T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups respectively. Similar trend was found for total solids and SNF being 12.58 and 8.55, 13.45 and 9.13, 13.84 and 9.42 and 14.05 and 9.55 in treatment T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups respectively. The effect on ash and titratable acidity was observed non significant at 5.0 percent level of significance. The Net profit in milk production (Rs) was highest in T4 (Rs.9522). The percent profit in milk production was highest in T4 (49.14) followed by T3 (30.10) and T2 (9.70) percent over the control (T1) treatment. It is concluded that indigenous milch cows can be efficiently raised on supplementation of shatavari root powder as evident from the increased feed intake, dry matter intake, water intake and milk production without any adverse effect on productive performance of cows.EnglishThesis