Effect of herbal feed additives on intake, rumen fermentation, availability of nutrients and energetic efficiency of feeds in Barbari kids reared under confined condition

Abstract

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.

Dietary supplementation of Ficus hookeri leaves as herbal feed additive affects nutrient utilization and growth performances in growing crossbred calves

“…Findings of the present experiment, e.g. digestibility of CP and EE was not influenced by the dietary supplementation of herbal feed additive is also similar to the earlier finding in growing kids in which CP and EE digestibility was not influenced by the dietary supplementation of mixture of herbal feed additive (Chaturvedi et al 2021).…”

“…Similarly, a nonsignificant effect of tropical tree leaves supplementation as herbal feed additive on dry matter intake (DMI, g/d) was reported in sheep (Malik et al 2017). However, Chaturvedi et al (2021) reported that daily dry matter intake becomes increased due to supplementation of herbal feed additive in growing Barbari kids reared under confined condition.…”

“…Tropical plants normally contain wide spectrum of secondary compounds. Tree leaves contain different classes of bioactive compounds such as tannins, saponins, flavonoids and many other plant secondary metabolites which have been shown to potentially improve rumen microbial fermentation (Chaturvedi et al 2021, Santra et al 2021) and improve animal productivity (Santra et al 2020, Jiao et al 2021, Tilahun et al 2022.…”