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An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of Ficus hookeri leaf meal as herbal feed additive on rumen protozoal population, enzyme profile and fermentation characteristics in growing crossbred calves. Ten growing male crossbred (Jersey × Tharparker) calves with similar initial body weight of 91.8+1.37 kg, were randomly divided into two equal groups (T1 and T2) and fed individually under stall feeding for 140 days on a mixed ration containing rice straw and concentrate mixture in 50:50 ratio. Two types (C1 and C2) of iso-nitrogenous concentrate mixtures were prepared. Wheat bran in concentrate mixture (C2) of test group (T2) was partially replaced (4 parts w/w) with Ficus hookeri leaf meal. Daily dry matter intake between two experimental groups was similar. Rumen pH, NH3-N concentration and total rumen protozoal population decreased while ruminal TVFA and propionic acid production increased due to dietary supplementation of Ficus hookeri leaf meal as herbal feed additive. Activity of carboxymethyl cellulase, xylanase and b-glucosidase enzymes were significantly higher in the rumen liquor of calves fed Ficus hookeri leaf meal. It could be concluded that dietary supplementation of Ficus hookeri leaf meals as herbal feed additive have a potential for reducing rumen protozoal population and ammonia nitrogen concentration with improving ruminal TVFA and propionate production in growing crossbred calves.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementation of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) on voluntary feed intake, availability of different nutrients and growth performance in weaned crossbred calves. Fifteen weaned healthy female Jersey crossbred calves (weight 79.73±3.46 kg; age 234.5±11.33 days) were divided equally into three groups viz., Control (T0), Treatment-1 (T1) and Treatment-2 (T2). Growth trial was conducted on these calves for 90 days. Animals in each treatment group were fed ad lib. total mixed ration (TMR) (CP 12%, TDN 65%) individually for 90 days. Calves under control (T0) group were fed ad lib. TMR (without EFE). Calves under T1 and T2 were fed ad lib. TMR supplemented with EFE cellulase and xylanase @ 8000 and 16000 IU/kg DM of TMR and with EFE cellulase and xylanase @ 12000 and 24000 IU/kg DM of TMR, respectively. Significantly greater DMI per unit body weight (kg/100 kg BW and g/kg W0.75) was recorded in enzyme supplemented groups compared to control group; however, difference between T1 and T2 was non-significant. Addition of EFE in the TMR diet of calves increased TDN and DCP intake (g/kg W0.75) in T1 and T2 than T0 . Supplementation of EFE also enhanced TDN (%), DCP (%), DNDF (%), DE (Mcal/kg of feed) and ME (Mcal/kg of feed) value of the diets under T1 and T2 than T0. Average daily weight gain (g/d/calf) was estimated greater in T1 and T2 than T0. The feed conversion efficiency was similar among three treatments. Whereas, plasma total protein and albumin concentration increased significantly due to supplementation of EFE in the diet of calves. Therefore, it may be concluded that supplementation of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (cellulase and xylanase @ 8000 and 16000 IU/kg TMR DM) may boost growth potential of finisher Jersey crossbred calves with enhanced intake of nutrients.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementation of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) to the Total Mixed Ration (TMR) at two different levels on intake, nutrient digestibility and nutrient availability in Black Bengal kids. A digestibility trial was conducted on 15 post-weaned Black Bengal kids divided into three groups. Control (T0) group was fed ad lib. TMR was prepared from concentrate mixture and green fodder @ 40: 60 on DM basis. T1 and T2 groups were supplemented with EFE cellulase and xylanase @ 8000 and 16000 IU/kg TMR DM and 12000 and 24000 IU/kg TMR DM, respectively. The study revealed significantly higher digestibility of nutrients, i.e. DM, OM, EE, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, cellulose and total carbohydrates in both enzyme supplemented groups than the control group. However, the digestibility of CP, cellulose and hemicellulose was significantly higher only in T2 group than the control. There was no significant difference between two enzyme supplemented groups in terms of digestibility of different nutrients except for CP which was significantly higher in T2 than T1. The difference in voluntary intake of DM and OM were non-significant but the intake of CP, DCP and TDN were higher in enzyme supplemented groups. Similarly, TDN, DE and ME content of the diet were also higher in two enzyme supplemented groups than control. However, there was no significant difference between T1 and T2 in terms of nutrient availability and intake. Based on the present study, supplementation of EFE @ cellulase 8000 and xylanase 16000 IU/ kg DM was found to be optimum for improving the nutrient digestibility and availability in Black Bengal kids, which may further improve the productive and reproductive performance of the animals.

Thirty-two weaned male Barbari kids (av. age, 144.65 days; weight, 9.43±0.24 kg), reared under intensive system of feeding, were divided equally into four groups (T1, T2, T3 and T4) to investigate the effect of supplementation of different levels of concentrate mixture on voluntary intake, growth performance, carcass traits and quality. All kids were fed with Bengal gram straw ad lib. + green fodder ad lib. as basal ration and supplemented with barley grain @ 0.7% of body weight in T1 and concentrate mixture @ 0.7, 1.4, and 2.1% of body weight in T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Dry Matter Intake (DMI, g)/kg W0.75 increased significantly in T1 and T4 than T2 and T3. Average daily weight gain (ADG) (g/d/kid) was enhanced significantly with each gradual increase in concentrate level. Slaughter weight and empty body weight were greatest in T4 compared with other treatments. Significantly greater dressing percentage and yield of separated lean meat was observed in kids under T3 and T4 than other two groups. But, meat:bone ratio and separated carcass fat yield was significantly higher only in kids under T4. Meat protein content (%) increased in T2, T3, and T4 as compared to control T1. Meat fat content increased linearly due to a gradual increase in the level of concentrate mixture supplementation to the finisher kids. Whereas, meat moisture and ash per cent remained unaltered due to different levels of concentrate supplementation to kids. Therefore, it may be concluded that supplementation of concentrate mixture @ 2.1% of the body weight in the roughage-based diet increased DMI in finisher Barbari kids with greater energy and protein values, which attributed to enhanced ADG in such kids by 408.3% over the control (supplemented with barley grain only), and also improved feed conversion ratio, carcass yield, carcass traits, and meat quality.

Weaned male Barbari kids (24) were divided equally into three groups (T1, T2 and T3) to investigate the effect of supplementation of herbal feed additives in the complete pelleted feed on intake of nutrients, rumen fermentation, availability of nutrients and energetic efficiency under stall-fed condition during an eight months feeding trial. Treatments were T1, Concentrate mixture (40%) plus arhar (Cajanus cajan) straw (60%) in Total Mixed Ration (TMR) form fed ad lib.; T2, Concentrate mixture (40%) plus arhar straw (60%) in Complete Feed Pellets form fed ad lib.; T3, Concentrate mixture (40%) plus arhar straw (60%) in Complete Feed Pellets form supplemented with herbal mixture (four herbs; Tulsi: Haldi: Amla: Arni, ratio 1:1:1:1 on DM basis) @ 0.5% in complete feed fed ad lib. Rumen fermentation pattern was studied at 3rd and 25th weeks of experimental feeding. A metabolism trial was conducted at the last phase of the experiment. During metabolism trial, DMI (g)/kg W0.75 and CPI (g)/kg W0.75 was greater in kids under T3 and T2 than T1. Pelleted complete feed supplemented with phytogenic feed additives resulted greater total VFA (mmol/dl SRL) concentration in rumen liquor of kids under T3 than TMR fed kids (T1) at three weeks of experimental feeding. The concentration of NH3-N (mg/dl SRL) was depressed significantly in T3 at 3rd and 25th weeks of feeding; T1 showed highest values during both periods. TDN intake (g)/kg W0.75 and Digestible Energy intake (MJ)/kg W0.75 were increased significantly in T3 and T2 than T1. DCP intake (g)/kg W0.75 was also higher in T2 and T3 than T1. Similarly, N-balance (g)/kg W0.75 increased significantly in T3 and T2 than T1. Therefore, it may be concluded that densification of feeds in the form of complete pelleted feed (T2) and further supplementation (@ 0.5% in the complete feed) with herbal mixture (Amla, Haldi, Arni and Tulsi=1:1:1:1 on DM basis) (T3) increased the intakes of DM, TDN, digestible energy and protein; enhanced rumen fermentation pattern, and increased N-balance in finisher Barbari kids.

The present study was carried out to find out the resistance of commonly used on-farm antimicrobials on commensally available E.coli isolates from faeces of young calves by the most simplified antibiogram study. Highest number of E coli isolates were sensitive to cefriaxone/ tazobactum (36.17%) followed by the resistant sulphadiazine (16.31%) and ofloxacin (13.47%), respectively. Around 11.23% isolates were also found to be resistant to cefotaxime. Therefore, even the most common antibiotics used to tackle common infections in calves are slowly becoming resistant. Such problems of disease occurrence and routine antibiotic use should be addressed by suitable managemental practices followed by appropriate vaccination schedules hence, reducing the dependence of farm animals on antibiotics.

The synbiotic combination of L. rhamnosus NCDC 298 and fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) is known to be effective against diarrhoea by preventing the adhesion of pathogens to the gutt, hereby, preventing infection and pathology. Such synergistic effect of the combination has emerged as a favourable alternative to antibiotic use against diseases and growth promoters in the livestock industry. The present study assessed the health and growth performance of the calves supplemented fermentable synbiotic fortified milk from 4 to 90 days and observed its performance till 120th day of age. Body temperature and passive immunity (IgG) were significantly better in calves fed synbiotics with notable increase in body weight and heart girth post synbiotic feeding period. These calves had increased dry matter intake per animal/day when compared to the control animals. The populations of Lactobacillus sp. elevated with decreased pathogenic bacteria (Coliform) in faeces on feeding synbiotics and it continued even after 90 days of age indicating colonization of beneficial bacteria. Therefore, feeding of fermentable synbiotics had observable beneficial effects on health, immunity and growth of the Jersey crossbred calves. The findings encourage further verification of fermentable synbiotics fortified milk as a potential growth promoter to young dairy calves.

Nutritional evaluation as tree fodder as well as a rumen manipulator of six multipurpose Himalayan forest tree leaves, viz. Kadam (Anthocephalus cadamba), Kaew (Costus speciosus), Karoi (Albizia procera), Bakful (Sasbania grandiflora), Gamar (Gmelina arborea), and Barhar (Artocarpus lakoocha), were evaluated by in vitro gas production test. The mean content of OM, CP, EE, T-CHO, NDF, ADF, cellulose and lignin of these tested tree leaves were 91.4, 14.6, 3.9, 72.8, 42.7, 31.2, 19.8, and 11.1% on DM basis, respectively. The gas production per g digested dry matter varied from 111.1 ml/g DDM/24h in Bakful (Sasbania grandiflora) to 612.3 ml/g DDM/24h in Barhar (Artocarpus lakoocha) tree leaves while methane production per gram digested dry matter varied from 14.7 ml/g DDM/24h in Kadam (Anthocephalus cadamba) to 102.2 ml/g DDM/24h in Bahar (Artocarpus lakoocha) tree leaves. TVFA and propionate production were higher due to inclusion of Karoi (Albizia procera) tree leaves in the incubation media. However, lowest NH3-N concentration and rumen protozoal population were observed due to incubation of Kadam (Anthocephalus cadamba) tree leave. Similarly, activity of polysaccharide degrading enzyme like carboxymethyl cellulase, xylanase and β-glucoidase enzymes were lower due to incubation of Kadam (Anthocephalus cadamba) in comparison to other tested tree leaves. However, activity of amylase enzyme was similar among all the tested tree leaves. Highest IVTDMD (52.3%) was observed for the Karoi (Albizia procera) tree leaves followed by Kaew (Costus speciosus) (47.9%) and Kadam (Anthocephalus cadamba) (43.8%) tree leaves. Similarly, TDN and ME content were also highest for Karoi (Albizia procera) tree leaves. The results indicated that among the tested tree leaves, Karoi (Albizia procera) was best tree fodder for feeding to the animals and Kadam (Anthocephalus cadamba) can be used as rumen manipulator to reduce ruminal methanogenesis and protozoal population for improving animal productivity.