Thirty-six Holstein cross calves 5 days of age in their preruminant stage were used to study the effect of feeding prebiotic (mannanoligosaccharide) on their performance up to the age of 2 months. Treatment and control groups consisted of 18 calves each. Treatment group was supplemented with 4 g prebiotic (mannanoligosaccharide)/calf/day. Performance was evaluated by measuring average body weight (BW) gain, feed intake [dry matter (DM), total digestible nutrient (TDN) and crude protein(CP)], feed conversion efficiency (DM, TDN, and CP), fecal score, fecal coliform count and feeding cost. Body weight measured weekly, feed intake measured twice daily, proximate analysis of feeds and fodders analyzed weekly, fecal score monitored daily and fecal coliform count done weekly. There was a significant increase in average body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency; and a significant decrease in severity of scours as measured by fecal score and fecal coliform count in the treatment group compared with control group (P < 0.01). Feed cost/kg BW gain was significantly lower in the treatment group compared to control group (P < 0.01). The results suggest that prebiotic (mannanoligosaccharide) can be supplemented to the calves for better performance.

Thirty-six crossbred calves (Holstein cross) of 5 days of age were used to study the effect of garlic extract feeding on their performance up to the age of 2 months (pre-ruminant stage). They were randomly allotted into treatment and control groups (18 numbers in each group). Performance was evaluated by measuring average body weight (BW) gain, feed intake (dry matter (DM), total digestible nutrient (TDN) and crude protein (CP)), feed conversion efficiency (FCE; DM, TDN and CP), faecal score, faecal coliform count and feeding cost. Diets were the same for the both groups. In addition, treatment group received garlic extract supplementation at 250 mg/kg BW per day per calf. Body weight measured weekly, feed intake measured twice daily, proximate analysis of feeds and fodders analysed weekly, faecal scores monitored daily and faecal coliform count done weekly. There was significant increase in average body weight gain, feed intake and FCE and significant decrease in severity of scours as measured by faecal score and faecal coliform count in the treatment group compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Feed cost per kilogramme BW gain was significantly lower in the treatment group compared to control group (P < 0.01). The results suggest that garlic extract can be supplemented to the calves for better performance.

Twelve crossbred calves (Holstein cross) in their pre-ruminant stage were used to study the effect of garlic extract feeding on their performance and they were randomly allotted into treatment and control groups in equal number. Performance was evaluated by measuring average body weight (BW) gain, feed intake [dry matter (DM); total digestible nutrient (TDN) and crude protein (CP)], feed conversion efficiency (DM, TDN and CP), fecal score and fecal coliform count. Diets were same for both groups. In addition, treatment group received garlic extract supplementation at 250 mg/kg BW/day/calf. BW measured weekly, feed intake measured twice daily, proximate analysis of feeds and fodders analysed weekly, fecal scores monitored daily and fecal coliform count done weekly. There was a significant (p < 0.01) increase in mean BW gain and feed intake and a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in severity of scours as measured by fecal score in the treatment group compared to the control group. The results suggest that garlic extract can be supplemented to the calves for better performance.

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of test day milk yield, test day evening milk yield, parity, stage of lactation and body weight on milk urea and milk protein concentration. A total of 319 milk samples was collected from buffaloes over four month's period and subjected to urea and protein analysis. Milk urea concentration (mg/dl) was significantly (p<0.01) increased with increasing test day milk yield. The lowest value (57.03±1.13) was observed in the milk yield group ≤4.5 kg/day and the highest value (64.15±1.13) in the group 7.7-10.7 kg/day. However, test day evening milk yield had no significant effect on milk urea concentration. Milk protein did not vary significantly with the test day milk yield as well as test day evening milk yield. A clear decreasing trend of milk urea concentration (mg/dl) was found with the increasing parity. The highest MU concentration (64.03±1.14) was found in the first parity and the lowest (55.67±1.22) was found in the sixth and above parity. Whereas, stage of lactation had no effect on milk urea concentration. Moreover, parity and stage of lactation did not have any significant effect on milk protein concentration. Body weight (kg) was also found negatively (p<0.05) related with urea content (mg/dl) in milk. The highest mean MU concentration (64.34±0.88) was found when body weight was between 532 and 598 kg and lower mean values (59.24±0.94 and 59.33±1.23) were observed in 599 to 665 kg and ≥666 kg group. Body weight also had significant (p<0.05) effect on milk protein content. The highest milk protein content (%) was found in ≥666 kg group and the lowest in <531 kg group. In conclusion, for proper interpretation of milk urea values to monitor protein nutrition status of the buffaloes parity, milk yield and body weight should be considered.

Data pertaining to 11728 test-day daily milk yields of normal and mastitis Karan Fries cows were collected from the institute herd and divided as mastitis and nonmastitis and parity-wise. The data of lactation curves of the normal and mastitis crossbred cows was analyzed using gamma type function. FTDMY in normal and mastitis cows showed an increasing trend from TD-1 to TD-4 and a gradual decrease (P < 0.01) thereafter until the end of lactation (TD-21) in different parities. The FTDMY was maximum (peak yield) in the fourth parity. Parity-wise lactation curve revealed a decrease in persistency, steeper decline in descending slope (c), and steeper increase in ascending slope (b) from 1st to 5th and above parity. The higher coefficient of determination (R 2) and lower root mean square error (RMSE) indicated goodness and accuracy of the model for the prediction of milk prediction performance under field conditions. Clinical mastitis resulted in a significantly higher loss of milk yield (P < 0.05). The FTDMY was maximum (P < 0.05) in the fourth parity in comparison to the rest of parity. It is demonstrated that gamma type function can give the best fit lactation curve in normal and mastitis infected crossbred cows.

Recently, much attention has been focused on potential health benefits of low calorie foods. This research was conducted for the development of low calorie apple jam by using stevia as a sweetener. The jam samples were stored in pre-sterilized glass jars and were analyzed physico-chemically (moisture, ash, pH, acidity, TSS, total sugars and reducing sugars and ascorbic acid) and organoleptically (colour, taste, appearance, flavour, texture and overall acceptability) during 28 days of storage. Apple jam prepared with sucrose served as control (T1). During storage, a decrease was observed in moisture content (76.99 to 75.33%), ash content (2.01 to 1.36%), pH (3.52 to 3.28) and ascorbic acid content (6.96 to 6.85%) while an increase was recorded in TSS (22.00 to 25.00 °B), titratable acidity (0.49 to 0.66%), total sugars (15.06 to 18.28%) and reducing sugars (5.63 to 8.40%). Statistical analysis of jam samples revealed that storage intervals had a significant (p<0.05) influence on physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of low calorie apple jam (T2) prepared with stevia

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Ten dry and pregnant Murrah buffaloes were selected to investigate the effect of Asparagus racemosus feeding on hormones, metabolites, milk yield, and plasma cholesterol levels. The treatment groups of buffaloes were fed with A. racemosus (shatavari) @ 150 g/day/animal during prepartum and @ 300 g/day/animal during the postpartum period. Blood samples collected on -6, -4, -2-week, day of parturition (0), and +2, +4, and +6-week postpartum were analyzed for plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), prolactin, cortisol, and blood metabolites. Milk samples collected at weekly intervals (+1, +3, +5, and 7 weeks) were analyzed for total milk fat cholesterol. Prepartum plasma cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in treatment group over the control (P < 0.05). Mean plasma triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, glucose, and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels varied nonsignificantly between groups. Plasma prolactin and cortisol concentrations were significantly (P < 0.01) more in treatment group than in control group. On day of parturition, plasma prolactin, cortisol, LDL, and plasma total cholesterol were higher (P < 0.01) in treatment group buffaloes in comparison to control group. A. racemosus feeding significantly (P < 0.01) increased plasma prolactin, cortisol (P < 0.01), and milk fat cholesterol (P < 0.05) without affecting total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, glucose, and NEFA concentrations. The buffaloes of treatment group produced more milk (@ 0.526 kg/animal/day) suggesting thereby that A. racemosus is galactopoietic. It was concluded that feeding of A. racemosus increases plasma prolactin and cortisol and decreased plasma total cholesterol and LDL concentration.