Review Paper

17.  P. Rai*, Ajit and A.K. Samanta

Research Paper

(Received December 31, 2005)

Rai, P., Ajit and Samanta, A.K. 2007. Tree leaves, their production and nutritive value for ruminants: a review. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 7: 135-159.

The estimated fodder requirement of India is 26 million tonnes annually. It is of vital importance to enhance the fodder production by improving top feed tree species. The tree species besides producing fodder, yield sufficient fuel wood also. Fodder tree species such as Prosopis cineraria, Acacia nilotica, Albizia lebbek, Azadirachta indica, and Dalbergia sissoo etc. are native to Indian sub-continent. These species have wide variation with respect to their growth rate, biomass production, nutritive value and size of fruits. Tree leaves are being increasingly used to provide fodder for livestock, as they have a number of unique characteristics which make them attractive for both smallholder and largescale livestock enterprises. Research and development efforts have concentrated on broadening the resource base by evaluating a greater range of tree leaves, defining optimum management strategies, and developing appropriate systems which capitalize on the advantages of these species. On an average, tree leaf fodder production of 0.2 to 2.0 ton/ha/year can be obtained up to 50% pruning height of the trees every year from the various agroforestry systems of different agroclimatic zones. The tree leaves contain 8-33 per cent crude protein, 1-19 per cent ether extract, 11-50 per cent crude fibre, 36-66 per cent nitrogen free extract, 22-57 per cent neutral detergent fiber, 0.2-3.0 per cent calcium and 0.1-0.3 per cent phosphorus. The digestibility coefficient of dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract and nitrogen free extract in tree leaves ranged from 40-75, 28-83, 24-82, 32-65 and 51-85 per cent, respectively. This paper reviews the availability period of leaf/pod fodder, their preferences by livestock in different agroclimatic zones of the country, top feed production under different agroforestry systems, chemical composition of top feed species, digestibility coefficient of nutrients of some top feed, anti nutritional factors in tree leaves. Future research thrust has also been highlighted.

Keywords: Top feed, Production, Nutritive value, Multipurpose trees, Shrubs.

*Corresponding author: prai_nrcaf@mailcan.com

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Research Paper

(Received December 26, 2005)

Panda, A.K., Rama Rao, S.V., Raju, M.V.L.N., Shyam Sunder, G., Chatterjee, R.N. and Sharma, R.P. 2007. Effect of supplemental DL-methionine on performance of commercial laying hens during summer. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 7: 169-175.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of commercial White Leghorn (WLH) layers fed diet supplemented with DL- methionine (Met) during summer (29-430C). WLH layers 26 wks of age with an average of 78 per cent hen day egg production (HDEP) were equally distributed into 3 groups of 24 each and were housed in individual California type cages in open side housing system. A basal diet based on maize-soybean-sunflower-deoiled rice bran without supplemental methionine (Met) was formulated (0.3% Methionine). Test diets were prepared by supplementing DL-Met at 0.0, 0.06 and 0.12 per cent to arrive 0.30, 0.36 and 0.42 per cent Met in the diet. The HDEP and feed efficiency increased significantly by supplementation of 0.06 per cent Met to the basal diet containing 0.30 per cent Met. However, no further improvement in egg production could be noticed by enhancing the Met supplementation to 0.12 per cent. Neither egg weight nor daily feed consumption was influenced by Met supplementation. The egg quality parameters such as specific gravity, shell-breaking strength, shell weight and shell thickness were not influenced due to supplemental Met in the diet. However, Haugh unit improved significantly due to 0.06 per cent Met supplementation. The serum protein, albumin and globulin concentrations were significantly higher in Met supplemented groups compared to that of control. The serum ALP activity lowered significantly due to 0.06 per cent Met supplementation and increasing the level to 0.12 per cent did not prove to be advantageous. The antibody production in response to sheet RBC inoculation improved significantly by supplementation of 0.06 per cent Met to the basal diet. No further advantage in antibody production could be noticed by enhancing the Met supplementation from 0.06 to 0.12 per cent. Similarly, the persistency of antibody production was higher in birds fed supplemental Met as compared to control group. It may be concluded that supplementation of 0.06 per cent DL-Met to the basal diet containing 0.3 per cent Met (375 mg Met/hen/day) is essential to support egg production, albumen quality and immune response in commercial WLH layers during summer (29-430C).

Keywords: Methionine, Performance, White Leghorn Layers, Summer.

*Corresponding author: akpanda59@rediffmail.com

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(Received May 05, 2006)

ABSTRACT

Tiwary, M.K., Tiwari, D.P., Kumar, A. and Mondal, B.C. 2007. Existing feeding practices, nutrient availability and reproductive status of dairy cattle and buffaloes in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 7: 177-185.

An investigation was conducted in four villages, two each from Roorkee and Laksar tehsils in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, to find out the existing crop-livestock production system, macro nutrients status in feeds and fodder and feeding practices. Fifteen farmers under three major categories on land holding basis i.e. landless (0 acre), small (2-5 acres) and large (>5 acres) from each village were selected. A benchmark survey was conducted through common questionnaire in order to collect the information on farmers’ family size, land holding, cropping pattern and irrigation facilities as well as livestock population, milk yield, feeding pattern along with mineral mixture and salt supplementation and reproductive status of the animals. Land holding, livestock holding and family size were the main factors influencing the nutritional status of the animals. Total cultivated area from selected villages owned as 41.7 and 58.3 per cent by small and large farmers, respectively. Main crops cultivated during kharif season are paddy, maize, sorghum, cowpea, etc, while during rabi season wheat; Berseem, etc. are the major crops. Most of the farmers used to prepare home made concentrate mixtures by blending locally available concentrate ingredients such as soybean cake, mustard cake, toria (lahi), gram chunni, wheat bran, wheat grain, deoiled rice bran, etc. and provided it to their animals in the form of sani (blend of concentrate, wheat straw and green fodder sprinkled with water). Complete feed block (CFB) and cattle feed (pellet) were purchased from the market and mostly fed to milch animals by the farmers of Roorkee tehsil. Wheat straw was the sole roughage used during all seasons along with available green fodders and almost all farmers used it as a basal fodder. Livestock (cattle and buffaloes) of 40 to 50 per cent farmers of the target area were found with different reproductive problems such as anoestrus (8.51 and 6.87 % in animals of Laksar and Roorkee tehsil, respectively), repeat breeding (11.35 and 5.84 % in animals of Laksar and Roorkee tehsil, respectively. Animals of surveyed area exhibited a deficiency in DM, DCP and TDN intake. In view of the scarcity of greens and high cost of concentrates, use of unconventional feeds with supplementation of mineral mixture may be beneficial to improve the nutritional status of the animals. There is further scope for improvement in production by feeding the animals as per the recommended standards.

Keywords: Farmers, Livestock, Nutrients, Reproductive problems.

*Corresponding author: dptiwari4@rediffmail.com

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(Received March 09, 2006)

Tiwary, M.K., Tiwari, D.P., Mondal, B.C. and Kumar, A. 2007. Macro and micro mineral profile in soil, feeds and animals in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 7: 187-195.

Mineral profile in soil, water, feeds, fodder and blood serum of cattle and buffaloes of plain region of Haridwar district of Uttarakhand were studied. The macro and micro mineral contents in soil were higher than their respective critical levels. However, the feed ingredients were found to be low in P, Mg and Cu contents. Low P and Cu contents were observed in serum of the animals. The wheat straw contained moderate amount of Ca (0.40±0.03 %) while other minerals such as Zn (43.00±2.28 ppm), Fe (271.31±27.83 ppm) and Se (0.13±0.01 ppm) were found slightly higher than their normal range, whereas it was deficient in P (0.14±0.01 %), Mg (0.10±0.01 %), Cu (3.44±0.66 ppm), Co (0.19±0.01 ppm) and Mn (33.58±4.30 ppm). Green fodders like sorghum and maize contained moderate amount of Ca (0.32±0.03 %), P (0.26±0.03 %), Zn (64.00±10.82 ppm), Fe (317.50±29.68 ppm), Co (0.79±0.06 ppm), Mn (60.45±12.68 ppm) and Se (0.22±0.02 ppm) while low in Mg (0.11±0.01 %) and Cu (6.69±0.66 ppm). Protein rich feed ingredients viz., soybean cake, mustard cake (Brassica campestris var. sarson), lahi (Brassica campestris var. toria) etc. were good sources of Ca, P, Zn, Fe, Co, Mn and Se. The other feeds such as commercial pelleted feed, complete feed block and gram chunni contained high Ca, P, Zn, Fe and Mn but low Cu content. The blood serum mineral concentrations for Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe and Mn (10.43±0.22mg/dl, 1.65±0.14mg/dl, 1.54±0.11ppm, 1.97±0.19 ppm and 0.54±0.02 ppm), respectively, were found above their respective critical levels except for Cu and P. The serum P (3.79±0.21mg/dl) and Cu (0.46±0.07 ppm) were deficient with their values falling below their respective critical levels. The mean concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu, Co and Mn in water were 7.01±0.05; 0.27±0.02; 15.63±0.70; 0.39±0.05; 0.48±0.05; 0.02±0.00; 0.03±0.01 and 0.25±0.03 ppm, respectively. Most of the animals were found to have reproductive problems, which could be attributed to P deficiency in this region. To overcome the deficiency, strategic dietary supplementation of minerals with better bioavailability could be a suitable approach.

Keywords: Feed, Fodder, Soil, Water, Mineral profile.

*Corresponding author: dptiwari4@rediffmail.com

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(Received July 28, 2006)

Udeybir, K.R. Yadav, B.S. Tewatia, S.K. and Ahlawat, M. 2007. Nutrient utilization, excreta moisture and intestinal viscosity of digesta in broiler chickens fed pearl millet based diet. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 7: 197-204.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of processing and enzyme supplementation in pearl millet based diet for starter (0-4 week) and finisher (4-6 weeks) broilers. Day old broiler chicks (n=400) were randomly distributed into ten treatments having two replicates each. Control T1 (Maize-soybean based diet) was as per BIS (1992) whereas T2- 66 per cent maize replaced with pearl millet, T3- 100 per cent maize replaced with pearl millet, T4 – T1 + multienzyme, T5 – T2 + multienzyme, T6 – T3 + multienzyme, T7 – 66 per cent maize replaced with reconstituted pearl millet, T8 – 100 percent maize replaced with reconstituted pearl millet, T9- T7 + multienzyme and T10- T8 + multienzyme. The results revealed that dry matter retention significantly increased when pearl millet was incorporated at 66 per cent level and reconstituted pearl millet at 66 per cent and 100 per cent level. The significant improvement in per cent nitrogen retention was observed in pearl millet based ration, at all the levels of the substitution as such, reconstituted or with or without enzyme supplementation. The excreta moisture was significantly higher in treatments T2, T3, T6, T7, T8, T9 and T10 as compared to control (T1). Apparently higher intestinal viscosity was recorded in all pearl millet based diet. It was concluded that nitrogen retention, DM retention except (T3) and excreta moisture (except T5) were improved in with or without enzyme supplemented raw pearl millet and reconstituted pearl millet based diet, whereas gross energy metabolizability was lowered in raw pearl millet based diet.

Keywords: Nutrient utilization, Excreta moisture, Intestinal viscosity, Broiler, Reconstitution.

*Corresponding author: ubchahal1@india.com

(Received September 20, 2006)

Dhuria, R.K., Purohit, G.R. and Sharma, T. 2007. Effect of Incorporation of Mustard (Brassica Campestris) Straw in the Complete Feed on Nutrient Utilization by Sheep. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 7: 205-212.

Three iso-nitrogenous complete feeds containing mustard straw at 40 (T1), 50 (T2) and 60 (T3) per cent levels were formulated and evaluated using 18 Marwari rams by conducting feeding trial of 28 days followed by metabolism trial for 7 days. The dry matter intake was 80.90, 77.01 and 74.74 g/kgW0.75 and 3.68, 3.50 and 3.41 kg/100kg BW, respectively, in T1, T2 and T3 groups without any significant differences. Apparent digestibility of dry matter, gross nutrients and fibre fractions were similar among the three diets. The DCP and TDN contents of complete feeds were 10.33 and 57.38, 9.89 and 54.26 and 9.12 and 53.03 per cent, respectively in T1, T2 and T3 treatment groups. There was no significant difference between groups in the intake of DCP and TDN per kg metabolic body weight. All animals were in positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances and there was no differences between treatment groups. It can be concluded that mustard straw can be incorporated in the complete feed up to 60 % level without much adverse effect on voluntary feed intake and utilization of nutrients in sheep.

Keywords: Mustard straw, Complete feed, Digestibility, Nutrient utilization, Sheep.

*Corresponding author: dhuriark12@yahoo.co.in

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