Effect of high plane of nutrition with herbal feed additive on intake, nutrient utilization and haemato-biochemical changes in post-partum Tharparker cows

Abstract

The study appraised the influence of higher plane of nutrition with herbal feed additive on feed intake, nutrient utilization, body condition score and blood-biochemical parameters in post-partum Tharparkar cows. Eighteen Tharparkar cows, ranging from second to fifth parity, with an average body weight of 340.3±5.5 kg and an average milk yield of 6.38±0.32 kg/d, were randomly divided into three groups. The control group (CON) was fed a basal diet consisting of concentrate mixture, fresh maize fodder and wheat straw, whereas, cows in Treatment-1 (T-1) received the same basal diet with 10% higher concentrate mixture and Treatment-2 (T-2), received basal diet with 10 % higher concentrate mixture along with a herbal feed additive @150mgkg-1 BW. The feeding trial lasted for 90 days. The DM and OM intake (kgd^-1) were comparable amongst the treatment groups whereas OM intake as %BW was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T-1 and T-2 groups than CON. The relative digestibility of various nutrients except EE was significantly (P<0.05) greater in T-2 group. The intakes of DCP, DOM, TDN and ME were significantly improved (P<0.01) in T-1 and T-2 groups than CON. Similarly, density of nutrients (DCP and TDN; %) of the composite diets were significantly (P<0.001) higher in T-2 followed by T-1 and CON groups, respectively. The body weight and body condition score (BCS) were similar among the groups. The cows of T-2 group exhibited significantly (P<0.01) higher haemoglobin and haematocrit values than CON and T-1 groups. Although, blood glucose, total protein and its fractions, A:G ratio, urea, AST and ALT were not affected. Thus, Tharparkar cows kept on higher plane of nutrition supplemented with herbal feed additive had significantly improved intake, nutrient utilization and haemotological parameters without affecting BCS and body weights.