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Conjugated Linoleic acid (CLA) is a mixture of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid (18:2) which contains conjugated unsaturated double bond. It is produced in the rumen during the biohydrogenation process. Recently CLA has been found to have many health benefits. It is known to be anticarcinogenic in nature and also helps in the inhibition of the development of atherosclerosis in animals. The milk and milk products from ruminant origin are rich sources of CLA. However, CLA content of milk depends on the type of feed provided to the animals. Therefore, feeding practices which enhance the CLA content of milk have been reviewed in the present paper. Apart from this, various other factors like dairy cows management system, age and breed of the animal also influence the milk CLA content. It is suggested that future research is required to focus on the parameters which enhance the CLA content of milk and milk products.

A study was carried out to assess micronutrients status of soil, plants and blood samples of small ruminants in coastal saline zone of West Bengal. Extractable P content of soil was below the critical level. However, micro mineral viz., Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn contents were higher than the critical level. Commonly available green grasses of coastal saline zone were doob (Cynodon dactylon), hybrid napier (Pennisetum spp.) and mutha (Eupatorium odoratum) grasses. Among the grasses, Cynodon dactylon and Pennisetum spp. were moderate to good source of Ca, Cu, Zn and Mn and very good source of Fe. However, Eupatorium odoratum was deficient in Cu and Zn and was moderate to optimum source of other nutrients screened. Tree leaves like babul (Acacia nilotica), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), pipul (Ficus religiosa), plantain (Musa paradisica), siris (Albizia lebbeck) and subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) contained higher levels of Ca, Cu, Zn and Fe. However, P and Mn content in tree leaves were deficient. In contrast, maize grain contained low level of Ca, Cu and Mn and moderate level of P and Zn and very high level of Fe. Rice bran and Mustard oil cake were moderate to very good source of all the macro and micro minerals screened. Paddy straw had low level of most of the micronutrients screened except iron and manganese. Over all mean haemoglobin, plasma Fe and Zn content in sheep and goat were within the normal limit. Similarly, plasma Ca, P, Mn and Cu contents in goat also were within the normal range of critical level. However, plasma Ca, P, Cu and Mn contents in sheep were below the critical level. The experimental survey showed that the most of the micronutrients (except P) status in tree leaves were moderate to optimal level which is reflected in the blood picture of goat. However, most of the green grasses were deficient in certain minerals, which also reflected in plasma of sheep.

An experiment on 18 male Barbari kids of 4-6 months age with an average body weight of 10.69±0.02 kg was conducted for 140 days to determine the effect of concentrate supplementation on their growth and nutrient utilization when fed liberally on tree leaves mixture (TLM) and/or natural grasses (G). The animals were divided into three equal groups and fed either tree leaves mixture [TLM: Pipal (Ficus religiosa); gular (Ficus glomerata) and pakar (Ficus infectoria) in equal parts] ad libitum (T1) or TLM ad libitum alongwith 300g concentrate (T2) or TLM and G (1:1) ad libitum alongwith 300 g concentrates (T3). The average daily DMI did not differ significantly amongst the treatments. The average daily gain was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the concentrate fed groups than sole TLM fed group (60.26 and 49.60 vs 30.00g). Average daily water intake followed the same trend. The mean daily CP intake (g/kg w0.75) was significantly higher (P<0.01) in T2 than T1 and T3 (15.76 vs 11.37 and 13.30g). The average daily ME intake did not vary significantly irrespective of the treatments. The average daily Ca intake was significantly higher (P<0.01) in T1 than T2 and T3 but the average daily P intake was significantly more (P<0.01) in T2 and T3 than T1. The digestibility coefficients of organic nutrients were significantly higher (P<0.01) in both the concentrate fed groups (T2 and T3) than TLM group. All the kids were positive in nitrogen balance. The nitrogen balance was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T2 and T3 than T1. It is concluded that when fed as a sole feed, TLM could sustain a daily growth rate of 30g for Barbari kids, whereas, supplementation of 300 g concentrates is required to the basal roughage of tree leaves for attaining the near optimum daily growth rate (60g).

Nutritional worth of wheat straw inoculated with lignolytic fungi was assessed. Moistened wheat straw, in batches of 500 g (DM), was inoculated with grain spawn of Trametes hirsuta (TH), Phialophora hoffmannii (PH) or Oidiodendron echinulatum (OE) @ 5 per cent on dry matter basis. Spawned straw filled in perforated polyethylene bags was incubated at 25°C till the appearance of fruiting bodies. Two bags of each fungal strain were removed at 24 h interval for assessing the changes in chemical composition and in sacco DM degradability. The fruiting bodies of TH, PH and OE appeared on 20, 10 and 16 days, respectively. Three fungi differed significantly in their ability to degrade the cell wall components. Maximum hemicellulose utilization and lignin degradation was observed in straw incubated with Oidiodendron and Trametes spp., respectively. The enrichment of straw with microbial protein was associated with increase in DM degradability up to 4 days of incubation in all the three cases. Keeping in view the minimum nutrient losses and considerable nutrient enrichment, Phialophora was rated as the best fungal strain for biodegradation of wheat straw.

Twelve Black Bengal bucks (8-9m; ~ 5.0 kg) were randomly divided into four equal groups to ascertain the effects of different levels of supplemental Molybdenum (Mo) on utilization of trace elements especially that of copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). Feeding of four levels of supplemental Mo at the rate of 0 (Control) 3.5 (T1), 7.5 (T2) and 15.0 (T3) ppm for 120 days did not affect the intake and digestibility of different nutrients. An increase in the level of dietary Mo intake produced a gradient fall in plasma Cu concentration and the lowest value was found in T3 (0.33±0.16 mg ml-1) and T2 (0.33±0.13 mg ml-1) groups of bucks. Increase in dietary Mo intake also reduced the plasma Fe in an identical fashion and at the end of the experiment the lowest plasma Fe concentration was found in T3 group (7.33±0.44 mg ml-1). Supplemental Mo did not affect the plasma Zn level. Mo induced Cu deficiency and decreased (P<0.01) the hemoglobin level in T3 group of bucks followed by T2 (25.30) and T1 (24.22) groups. Consequent to the reduced Cu level in blood, bucks in T3 group exhibited significant (P<0.05) decline in erythrocyte count coupled with a shortened life span and maturation of the erythrocytes. No such effect on leukocyte count was found. It was concluded that higher levels of supplemental Mo induced a copper deficiency which in turn affected the utilization of Fe resulting in development of anemia in goats.

Supplies of concentrate feed ingredients were collected from four different sources, pooled and analysed in triplicate for proximate principles and cell wall constituents to standardise their chemical characteristics. The chemical composition was compared with available BIS specifications and it was found that most of the feed ingredients' values exhibited fulfilling BIS requirements. Twenty samples of each, compound cattle feed, poultry mash, fish meal and molasses were also collected and evaluated for the presence of adulterants. In case of molasses, most of the sample Brix values were quite close to the BIS requirements. 35 per cent of the fish meal samples were found containing salt content above the specified limits. Most of the poultry mash feeds were found containing salt within the BIS specified limits. In the case of compound cattle feed, 10 per cent of the samples fulfilled the BIS specifications in terms of CP for cattle feed type 1 and 20 per cent of the samples fulfilled the BIS requirements for cattle feed type 2, 70 per cent of the cattle feed samples failed to fulfill BIS specifications. The study revealed widespread adulteration in cattle feeds in the market with rice husk as the major adulterant.

Feeding trial using bypass protein supplement was conducted on 16 lactating buffaloes for 8 weeks. Buffaloes daily yielding 8-9 kg milk per animal were divided into two groups of eight each, based on milk yield, fat percentage and stage of lactation. The animals in both the groups were fed standard ration, comprising 12 kg green maize fodder and 5 kg paddy straw. Concentrate mixture was given according to their level of milk production. In addition to the basal ration, animals in control group were fed 1.0 kg untreated sunflower meal (Helianthus annuus; UDP 33 % of CP) and in experimental group 1.0 kg protected sunflower meal (UDP 75 % of CP). Average increase in milk yield (kg), fat and protein percent in experimental group was 0.80, 0.40 and 0.20 respectively. Through increase in milk yield and fat percent were significantly (P<0.05) higher, no significant effect was observed on level of protein percent in milk by feeding protected protein. Average net daily income increased by Rs.14.49 on feeding 1.0 kg protected sunflower meal in lactating buffaloes.

Key words: Bypass protein, Undegradable protein, Rumen degradable protein, Sunflower meal.

In order to evaluate the efficacy of different markers viz. acid detergent lignin (ADL), alkaline peroxide lignin (APL), acid detergent fibre ash (ADFA) and acid insoluble ash (AIA) to predict the digestibility of nutrients, three digestion trials involving 'total collection' and by 'marker' were conducted simultaneously using 18 lactating cows in three periods. The average recovery values of ADL, APL, ADFA and AIA were 78.3, 78.8, 93.7 and 104 per cent, respectively. The recoveries of ADL and APL were much lower (P0.05) than the comparable recovery values of ADFA and AIA. But the digestibility of DM, OM, NDF and ADF was similar with high correlation, among the values obtained by total collection and ADFA marker. However, the digestibility of these nutrients differed significantly (P0.05) with low correlation coefficient when comparison was made between the values obtained by total collection and ADL and APL markers. ADFA could, therefore, be a suitable marker for predicting nutrient digestibility in dairy cows in place of laborious and time consuming total collection method.

Mineral status of soil, feeds and fodder and buffaloes in western agroclimatic zone of Vidarbha region of India was studied. Available Ca (0.76±0.003% ), P (127.5±22.5 ppm), and Na (0.05±0.02 %), levels in soil were adequate but 50% of soil sample analysed were deficient in Zn (0.60±0.058 ppm) where as the K (0.35±0.04 %), Cu (3.37±0.24 ppm) and Mn (17.43±1.76 ppm) content was higher. The Ca was deficient in cotton seed cake (0.23±0.04) and cotton seeds (0.18±0.01). The P deficiency was observed in sorghum straw (0.12±0.013 %), arhar straw (0.09±0.06 %), gram straw (0.14±0.012 %) and soybean straw (0.10±.008 %). The K concentration in cotton tree leaves was higher (0.74±0.04 %) as compared to other feeds and fodders. The feeds and fodders are rich source of Cu (34.5-40.5 ppm), Mn (32.92-68.03 ppm) and Fe (116.66-203.75 ppm) but deficient in Zn (15.53-27.04 ppm) and Na (0.02-0.16 %).The mean serum minerals' concentration were within normal range except for the Zn (0.26±0.01 µg/ml ). It was observed that the buffaloes in the Akola district were Zn deficient which is directly correlated to concentration of zinc in soil, feeds and fodder.

Eighteen crossbed lactating cows (319±15.21 kg BW) were randomly divided into three groups of six each. The animals in treatment 1 (T1) was fed untreated wheat straw along with concentrate mixture and the animals in treatment 2 (T2) and 3 (T3) were offered urea treated straw with 25 and 35 per cent less quantity of concentrate mixture, respectively, as compared to control. The average daily DM intake was higher (P<0.05) in treatments T2 and T3. The digestibility of DM though not statistically higher but CF and CP digestibility were significantly (P<0.05) higher in treatments T2 and T3. Mean TDN (%) content of the composite diet was comparable among the experimental groups; however, TDN intake was higher (P<0.05) in T2 and T3 than T1. There was no significant changes were observed in milk yield and milk composition among the groups. Blood constituents like serum protein, glucose and urea were within the normal physiological range. Thus urea treated straw can be fed with the reduction of 25-35 per cent concentrate requirement in the ration without affecting milk yield and nutrient utilization.

A study was undertaken to assess the macro-mineral status of feeds and fodders in Kutch district of Gujarat state, for formulation an appropriate mineral mixture for that area. The average calcium content in straws (0.45%) was higher, whereas concentrate ingredients were particularly low in calcium (0.10%). The phosphorus content of crop residues and green fodders was 0.14 and 0.29 per cent, respectively, which was higher in concentrate ingredients (0.52%). The magnesium levels in samples of feeds and fodders were adequate (average levels >0.40%). Sodium content was low in concentrate ingredients but high in green fodders. Due to high sodium content in water, it was not advisable to supplement sodium in diet. The area under survey seemed to be quite rich in potassium, because all samples were extra-ordinarily rich and were far exceeding the requirement level. Sulphur content was occasionally deficient in ration of milch animals; however, its supplementation was necessary due to high selenium content in feedstuffs. It was apparent that the levels of calcium, phosphorus and sulphur were inadequate to meet the requirement of animals; however, the levels of magnesium, sodium and potassium were sufficient in the surveyed area.

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of providing supplementary concentrate at different levels to the crossbred weaner lambs grazing on Cenchrus ciliaris dominated pasture on their live weight gains, wool yield and its quality. Forty lambs of fine wool synthetic strain weaned at 75 days of age were divided into five uniform groups and grazed for 8 hours daily on a Cenchrus ciliaris dominated grass pasture up to 9 months of age. While the first group of lambs were supplemented with concentrate mixture ad libitum, the lambs of second, third and fourth groups were fed concentrate at 75, 50 and 25 per cent of the ad libitum intake. Further, no supplemental concentrate was given to the lambs of the fifth group. The average daily live weight gain of 67 g in the grazing group increased to 87, 104, 119 and 123 g with the increasing level of concentrate supplementation. The greasy wool yield of 615.5 g also improved by 40.1, 42.4, 97.8 and 102.3 per cent, respectively. While the staple length improved from 3.69 cm to 3.74, 4.44, 5.41 and 5.42 cm and fibre diameter though not desired , also increased from 23.22 to 24.23, 26.07, 26.10 and 27.61µ, respectively. It was concluded that the plane of nutrition significantly affect the live weight gains, wool yield and its quality, and supplementation at the level of 50 per cent of ad libitum concentrate was most appropriate to obtain optimum production from the crossbred lambs.

Fifteen adult crossbred (Local × Corriedale) male sheep (34.4±1.44 kg), divided into three groups of five each, were fed two improved varieties (JHB-98-1 and JHTB-96-4) of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) against a check, JHB-146 as hay. JHTB-96-4 contained relatively higher CP (16.1%) but lower fibre (ADF: 40.7%) than both JHB-146 and JHB-98-1. But there was no significant difference in daily dry matter intake (DMI), calculated as kg/100 kg body weight or g/kg W0.75, and digestibility of nutrients among the varieties, except higher (P<0.05) total daily DMI in JHTB-96-4. All the animals were in positive nitrogen balance. However, daily nitrogen intake (27.5 g) as well as retention (7.60 g) was significantly higher in JHTB-96-4 variety. The TDN content was comparable among the varieties, but DCP content (%) was lower in JHB-98-1 (7.98) than both JHB-146 (10.25) and JHTB-96-4 (10.18). It was concluded that berseem varieties evaluated as hay were nutritionally comparable, except lower DCP content in JHB-98-1.