Effect of protected fat, yeast, niacin, zinc and chromium supplementation on the productive performance of heat-stressed Karan Fries heifers

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect
of feed supplements and additives on the productive performance
of growing heifers during summer season. A total of 18 Karan
Fries (KF) heifers were randomly selected and divided into two
groups, i.e. control and treatment. The basal ration for both control
and treatment groups was the same. However, the treatment group
was supplemented with protected fat, yeast, niacin, zinc, and
chromium. Various body growth-related parameters and plasma
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were estimated fortnightly up
to 120 days post-feeding. The body weight, DMI/100kg BW and
gain in height were numerically higher in the treatment group as
compared to control group but it didn’t show any significant
difference. Average daily gain (ADG) and heart girth gain (HGG)
were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the treatment group as
compared to control group. Although the gain in body length
was not different between the groups, the overall mean value
was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the supplemented group.
Unlike ADG and HGG which took two months to exhibit significant
difference, plasma IGF-1 showed significant (P<0.01) difference
within the first-month post-feeding in the supplemented group
as compared to control group. Our findings reveal that the
supplementation of above feed package in the ration of KF heifers
improves the growth rate under heat stress conditions which are
indicated by the higher ADG, body measurements and IGF-1
values in the treatment group.