Effect of herbs as feed additive on haemato-biochemical constituents in growing crossbred heifers fed paddy straw based ration

Abstract

Growing crossbred heifers (21), 6-to 12-month old and weighing 59 to 96 kg were selected and divided into 3 groups of7 animals each in such a way that the average body weights in all the groups remain uniform. All the experimental animals in different groups were fed similar basal ration (group 1, control) whereas, animals in group 2 were supplemented with a mixture of Asparagus racemosus and Cryptolepis buchananl herbs and animals in group 3 were supplemented with a mixture of Bacapa monnieri, Urtica dioica and Eclipta alba herbs at 1% level of concentrate mixture as feed additive. Hematological parameters, viz. Hb, PCV, TLC and DLC; surum total protein, albumin, globulin and albumin: globulin ratio, urea nitrogen and activities ofAP, SGOT and SGPT and blood glucose level did not differ significantly among different treatment groups. It was concluded that the inclusion of herbs at 1% level in concentrate mixture as feed additive pose no stress and had no harmful effect on crossbred heifers as assessed from haemato-biochemical constituents.