Singh, AjitSingh, Virk, Jatinder2018-11-282018-11-281972http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810084586Herbal feed additives (9) were used either individually or in combination at 0, 0.4, 0.8 or 1.2 percent level to assess the effect on in vitro gas production and digestibility of nutrients using berseem and wheat straw as substrates. The effect of herbs irrespective of level or type of substrate used indicated that net gas production, true organic matter digestibility and availability of ME from the substrate were maximum (P<0.05) when it was supplemented with either bhringraj, kutki or jeera. The effect of level of herb used irrespective of type of herb or substrate used revealed that net gas production and available ME from the substrate was improved significantly in the groups supplemented with herbal feed additives as compared to unsupplemented group. However, supplementation beyond 0.4 per cent did not have any beneficial effect on utilization of nutrients. Further, berseem was more responsive to herbal additives than wheat straw. The 9 herbal feed additives divided into 3 groups viz. shatavari-jiwanti-bhringraj; mustak­jeera-saunf or kutki-chitrak-soe were mixed either in 3:1:2 or 1:1:1; 3:1:2 or 1:1:1; 1:4:2 or 1:1:1, respectively. Each combination was tested at 4 levels. The effect of combination irrespective of level, proportion in which each herb was mixed and type of substrate used revealed that digestibility of nutrients as well as availability of ME were maximum (P<0.05) when shatavari-jiwanti-bhringraj were supplemented in 3:1:2 ratio. This combination at 0.4 per cent level was considered as best combination. Rumen fistulated male buffalo calves (6) were offered control diet of concentrate mixture and wheat straw without any herbal supplement. Rumen contents were collected after 30 day adaptation period. Thereafter, control diet was supplemented with either bhringraj, kutki or combination of bhringraj-kutki (1:1) for 30 days. The pH in the SRL of animals fed diet supplemented with herbs increased significantly as compared to animals in control group. The herbal supplementation did not have any significant effect on the different N fractions in the rumen. The metabolism trial conducted before the termination of 77 day growth trial on 20 buffalo calves revealed that the daily dry matter intake, digestibility of nutrients and N-retention were also improved to some extent in the animals fed diet supplemented with kutki. The herbal supplementation did not have any significant impact on the daily live weight gain in buffalo calves except that maximum daily gain was observed in animals fed bhringraj supplemented diet.EnglishThesis