Studies on use of Some Phytogenic Materials as Cattle Feed Preservatives

Abstract

newline This study was conducted to generate information regarding use of some phytogenic materials as cattle feed preservatives with the objectives to study changes in chemical composition of concentrate feeds preserved with plant materials; to study the effect of preservatives on in-vitro digestion of feeds; to study effect of promising preservative on nutrient utilization in ruminants and to study the economics of use of preservatives on growth performance of calves. Calcium propionate at 0.1 percent, curry leaves at 2 percent, mint leaves at 1 percent, seabuckthorn leaves at 2 percent, eucalyptus leaves at 2 percent, turmeric rhizome powder at 1 percent and neem leaves were added at 2 percent and they were designated as PC, C, M, S, E, T and N, respectively. Basal feed was designated as NC. Effect on physical and chemical composition of feeds was studied up to 6 months period. In-vitro gas production study was conducted bimonthly for dry matter and organic matter digestibility. Digestibility-cum-metabolism trial was conducted by using NC, PC, N and T with wheat straw as source of roughage in 4 groups of calves with 5 calves in each group. A growth study was conducted on same groups of growing calves for 12 weeks period by using TMR containing concentrate with PC, N and T. Economics of use of the phytogenic preservatives in growing calves was calculated. On the basis of effect of phytogenic preservatives on shelf-life of concentrate feeds, treatment T and N had rank 1 followed by PC; M and S; C; NC and E in decreasing order. The feeds could be very well preserved up to 4 months after preparation under the weather conditions of Palampur, without affecting the in-vitro digestibility of DM and OM. The treatment T significantly (Plt0.05) increased the digestibility of OM, CF and NFE in the growing calves. Nitrogen retention was not affected by the use of PC, N and T. Energy content of feeds of N and T treatments were significantly (Plt0.05) higher than NC. The use of Calcium propinate, Neem and Turmeric resulted in