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12. S. V. RAMA RAO, M. V. L. N. RAJU, M. SHAILAJA SHASHIBINDU AND O. KRISHNA MURTHY

Short Communications

22. REKHA KARUP, A. B. DESHMUKH, BHAVANA WANKHADE AND S. A. UDAR

An experiment was conducted to study the performance of broiler chicks (2 to 35 d of age) fed diets containing pearl millet (PM, Pennisetum typhoids), totally replacing (w/w) yellow maize (YM) with and without supplementing non-starch polysaccharide (NSP), hydrolyzing enzymes @ 0.5g/kg diet. Enzymes preparation contained amylase 2,400 units hemi-cellulase 5,400 units, cellulase 12,000 units, protease and beta-glucanase 106units/g. Each diet was fed to ten replicates (five female Vencob broilers/replicate) housed in stainless steel battery brooders. The estimated metabolizable energy (ME) contents o FYM and PM were 3494 and 3439 kcal/kg, respectively. Replacement of YM with PM did not influence the body weight gain, feed efficiency, ready to cook yield, relative weights of giblet, liver, abdominal fat, intestine and spleen, and length of intestine. The relative weight of gizzard decreased. Antibody titers against SRBC at 10-post inoculation increased in broiler fed PM based diet compared to YM fed birds. Total and LDL cholesterol concentration decreased in serum, while protein content in liver and breast muscle increased on PM based diets compared to those fed YM. The growth, feed efficiency, carcass variables, immunological traits, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol in serum were not affected by supplementing NSP hydrolyzing enzymes to YM or PM based diets LDL-cholesterol in YM and PM fed birds, total cholesterol in YM fed broiler decreased, while protein content in breast muscle increased with incorporation of enzymes in diets based on both energy sources. Based on the results, it is concluded that maize can be replaced in toto with pearl millet on weight basis without affecting weight gain, feed efficiency and carcass yields. Further, replacing maize with pearl millet resulted in improvement in immunological traits, reduction in LDL and total cholesterol in serum, and increased protein accretion in tissue of broilers. Though supplementing NSP hydrolyzing enzymes failed to influence growth and feed efficiency, the LDL and total cholesterol concentrations in serum decreased, while protein concentration in liver and breast muscle increased with enzyme supplementation.

Twenty-six non-descript lactating buffaloes from 21 farm families were equally divided into two groups. The lactating buffaloes were fed a basal diet of wheat straw ad libitum and supplemented with either wheat bran (WBC) or rice polish (RPC) supplement on iso-nitrogenous basis for 4 months duration. The amount of supplement was decided on the basis of milk-yield. The dry-matter intake (% BW or g/kg W0.75) of lactating buffaloes from straw or concentrate moiety did not differ significantly irrespective of dietary supplements. The digestibility coefficient of DM, OM< CP, EE, NDF, ADF were also comparable,. Similarly, the nutrient composition and intake of composite diet in term of DCP, TDN and ME did not differ significantly. Milk yield and composition, monitored at fortnightly intervals, was found comparable irrespective of dietary supplement The cost-benefit analysis of substitution effect of rice polish revealed that the cost of concentrate for lactating buffaloes could be reduced significantly if wheat bran is completely replaced by rice polish

Key words: Lactating buffaloes, Nutrient Utilization, Rice-polish, Supplementation

An experiment on nutrient retention and immune competence in broiler chickens was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary incorporation of raw and /or processed karanj (Pongamia glabra) cake such as solvent extracted karanj cake (SKC), 1.5% NaOH treated by partially replacing soybean meal nitrogen of reference diet at 12.5, 25 and 50 percent, respectively. Thus, a total of 13 different isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated and fed ad libitum throughout the experimental period. After 42 days of experimental feeding, a balance study of four days duration was conducted on all birds to determine the nutrient retention. Immune response of broiler chickens was assessed by measuring phagocytic index (PI, 28d), cutaneous basophilic hypersensitivity (CBH) response to PHA-P (35d) and humoral immune response (HIR) to sheep red blood cells (42d) On 43d post feeding, four birds from each dietary group were sacrificed and the weights of lymphoid organs were recorded. The intake of DM, N, GE, Ca and P decreased with increase in the levels of both treated and untreated karanj cake in the diet No difference could, however, be found n the percent retention of all the nutrients Neither the PI nor the CBH response to PHA-P differed significantly due to incorporation of raw and processed karanj cake replacing soybean meal nitrogen up to 50% of reference diet However, the HIR was significantly (P<0.05) lower in the chicks fed diet replacing soybean protein with that of NaOH treated EKC at 50 percent level as compared to that in reference diet The percent live weight of spleen, bursa and thymus were similar in al the dietary groups at six weeks of age The percent live weight of pancreas was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the chicks fed diet incorporated with NaOH EKC replacing soybean meal nitrogen at 50 percent level of reference diet It is concluded that, soybean meal protein can thus be replaced with NaOH and Ca(OH)2 treated SKC at 12.5 percent level, without adversely affecting nutrient intake and retention and immune competence in broiler chickens.

Hisardale male lambs (n=24, 4-5 month of age) were maintained on a conventional ration for a month to equilibrate the body mineral status. Six lambs were sacrificed after one month of feeding, the samples of organs were analyzed to ascertain mineral status. The remaining 18 lambs were divided into 3 groups of 6 each on body weight basis. Three dietary treatments containing 100 (T1), 110 (T2) and 120% (T3) of limiting minerals (Ca, P, S, Zn, and Mn) as specified by NRC (1985) were formulated and each treatment was allotted ad libitum to a group for 120 days. Blood and wool samples were collected and analyzed for different minerals at monthly intervals. The effective intake of minerals was Ca, 111 and 120, P, 110 and 122; S, 112 and 129; Zn, 112 and 126 and Mn, 109 and 124 per cent in T2 and T3, respectively, in comparison to T1 (100%). The concentrations of Ca, P and Fe in serum were higher (P<0.01) in lambs from dietary treatments T2 and T3 than T1. On the other hand, S in serum increased with its increasing dietary level and was statistically higher (P<0.01) in T3 as compared to T1 and T2. Although the Ca and Mn contents in wool increased significantly (P<0.01) in the lambs fed higher levels of minerals but there was an increase in P content in the wool of T2 only. However, different levels of minerals did not affect the contents of S, Zn, Cu and Fe. The dietary intake of P or S was significantly (P<0.01) correlated with their respective concentrations in serum. A positive correlation (P<0.05) also existed between dietary intake and concentration of serum Mn in lambs. Other elements did not show any significant correlation. Similarly, when intake was correlated with mineral contents of wool, significant correlations (P<0.01) were achieved only for S and Mn. The concentration of serum Ca, P and Mn correlated positively (P<0.01) with their respective contents in wool, while the concentration of S in serum was negatively correlated, (r=-0.36). The concentrations of Ca, P, S and Mn in serum and wool were highly significant. Thus, Ca, P, S and Mn concentrations of the serum can be judged by estimating these minerals in wool. Moreover, dietary intake of S and Mn could also be predicted from their concentration in wool.

The efficacy of incorporating a mixture of terrestrial plant based materials in the diet as feed attractant was assessed in terms of feed intake, nutrient utilization and growth of rohu (Labeo rohita) fry. The identified attractants included Trigonella forenum graceum L., Myristic fragrans Houtt, Piper betel L., Psoralea corylifolia L. and Campheria sp. In a proportion of 25, 15, 15, 20 and 25 percent, respectively, and incorporated in the basal diet at one per cent level. The amino acid profile of the attractant mixture revealed that it is rich source of glutmatic acid, aspartic acid, and leucine. Triplicate groups of rohu (~1g) were fed on a standard basal diet with and without attractant. The weight gain, protein efficiency ratio, temperature growth coefficient, and daily growth coefficient were significantly (P<0.01) higher in attractant supplemented feed than the control. The carcass tissue composition of rohu fry did not differ significantly between attractant-supplemented feed and non-supplemented control. It may be concluded that a diet supplemented with natural plant based attractants resulted in better growth performance of rohu fry under the given condition.

Day-old broiler chicks (n=240) were distributed into 24 groups of 10 each. Eight dietary treatments were designed, incorporating solvent extracted rapeseed meal (RSM) at 0, 5, 10 and 15% level, replacing soybean meal in diets based on maize alone or 50% of maize replaced with whole pearl millet at fixed calorie-protein ration. Separate diets were formulated for 0-4 weeks starting and 47 weeks finishing periods. Each dietary treatment was offered to three groups of birds. The feed intake and body weight gains were recorded weekly. A metabolism trial was conducted at 6th weeks of age At the end of the trial, eight birds were randomly selected and sacrificed to evaluate carcass traits The results indicated no significant differenced in weight gain, feed intake of FCR between treatments. However, the combination of rapeseed meal with maize and pearl millet was better than maize alone. The dry matter and energy metabolizability and nitrogen retention were similar in all the treatments. The carcass, organ yield and cut up parts though differed significantly among dietary treatments, higher heart yield Incorporation of 15% RSM in maize-based diet or 10 or 15% RSM in that solvent extracted rapeseed meal (RSM) could safely be included up to 15%, replacing part of the soybean meal in maize or maize-pearl millet based broiler chicken diet.

Keywords: Broilers, Rapeseed meal, Pearl millet, Growth performance, Carcass traits.

The study was conducted in Ngongogeri Farm of Egerton University to find out effects of Pyrethrum Marc (PM) substituting graded proportion of nitrogen provided by fish meal (FM) in a compound ration, in terms of intake, digestibility and milk yield and composition. Twenty-five lactating Friesian dairy cows grazing on a Rhodes grass pasture (basal diet) were randomly allocated to five treatment diets and supplemented with five different compounded concentrates replacing (control, RT!), 25 (RT2), 75 (RT4) and 100(RT5) percent of the FM nitrogen. Lactation days were used as covariant in the analysis of data using GLM procedure of SAS computer package Supplementation with treatment diets, done @ 2.0 kg/day, did not affect significantly (P is greater than 0.05) the intake and digestibility of DM and OM Daily milk yield and its protein content differed (P is greater than 0.05) among the dietary groups, and ranged from 12.27 to 10.00 kg/d for milk yield and 3.26 to 3.02% for milk protein content in RT1 to RT5, respectively The responses were attributed to the change in the quality and quantity of amino acids absorbed in the small intestines However, there was no effect of replacement o lactose and butter fat content of the milk It was concluded that Pymarc could be used effectively by replacing 25 per cent nitrogen of FM in a compounded dairy ration.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the carcass quality and utilization of calcium and phosphorus in broiler chicks fed diet with graded levels viz., 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.40, 0.45, 0.50 and 0.55 per cent of available phosphorus from 0-46 d of age. Results indicated that the carcass quality traits (pre-slaughter live weight, percent shrinkage loss due to fasting, dressing yield, evisceration yield, gizzard, heart and liver) did not differ significantly due to different levels of dietary P. Excreta moisture and calcium retention variables also did not vary significantly due to different phosphorus levels. Significant (P<0.05) linear increase in intake and excretion of phosphorus was noticed when phosphorus levels were increased in diet from 0.20 to 0.40 percent. However, no significant effect was evident in terms of retained phosphorus and percent retention of phosphorus due to different phosphorus levels in the diet. Results of the present study suggest that 0.30 percent available phosphorus in the diet is adequate for optimum carcass quality characteristics and utilization of calcium and phosphorus in broiler chicks.

A 82-day lactation trial was conducted on 20 multiparous crossbred milch cows arranged in a 2x2 factorial design. The animal were dived equally into 4 groups and were offered either berseem (Trifolium alexandrium) or oat (Avena sativa) hay based rations fed either by conventional feeding system or as total mixed ration (TMR). The experimental protocol involved a digestion trial at the end of the feeding period followed by blood profile assessment besides a parallel rumen fermentation study using eight crossbred male calves. The results revealed that the digestibility of organic matter and neutral detergent fibre was significantly (P<0.05) higher when the diet was fed as TMR as compared to conventional feeding system. Except for the blood urea, other blood parameters were not influenced by the method of feeding. Feeding of animals either by conventional feeding system or as TMR irrespective of the roughage source did no have significant impact on milk yield or its composition. The results revealed that feeding system did not have any significant impact either on milk production or on its composition. Both berseem hay as well as oat hay based complete feeds (TMR) could sustain 15-16 kg of milk production per day.

Keywords: Total mixed ration, Milk production, Rumen, Blood profile, Nutrient utilization, Crossbred cows.

Detoxification of feed aflatoxins by physico-chemical and biological methods are found ineffective and unsafe. However, clay and zeolite materials have been found effective and safe in diminishing the effect of aflatoxin in chickens. Hydrated Sodium bentonite (aluminosilicate) was included in the diet of chicken containing 1.0 and 2.0 ppm aflatoxins. The effect of various levels of hydrated sodium bentonite on nutrient utilization in the diet of chickens containing aflatoxin was determined. In diets containing 1.0 and 2.0 ppm aflatoxin, the respective mean metabolizable energy utilization (85.12 and 79.04%), protein retention (79.83 and 74.74%), calcium retention (67.92 and 63.09%) and phosphorus retention (74.90 and 68.50%) were significantly lower than control but dietary incorporation of 0.15 and 0.3 per cent hydrated Sodium bentonite significantly improved the nutrients utilization.

An experiment on nine crossbred heifers (average age ~ 12 months; BW 63 kg) divided into three groups was conducted to determine the effect of feeding gliricidia leaves on nutrient utilization and growth performance. The group T1 was fed with green maize fodder and cottonseed whereas, in T2 and T3 25 to 100 percent CP of green maize fodder was replaced by gliricidia leaves and fed along with cottonseed. All experimental groups were fed lib jowar straw as basal feed. The mean CP (17.85 + 2.85%) contents of gliricidia leaves was and higher compared to green maize. The daily DMI was significantly (P<0.01) higher (3.43 + 0.18 kg) in group T2 as compared to T3 (2.88 + 0.25 kg). Although the digestibility coefficient showed non-significant variation among the treatments, the values for DM (62.85 + 1.82%), CP (63.37 + 2.88%), CF (58.86 + 0.90%) and NFE (72.34 + 1.36) were higher in T1 than T2 and T3. The digestibility coefficient of EE (61.63 2.61%) was however, higher in T2 There was significantly (P<0.05) lower intake of DCP in group T2 (26.93%) and T3 (29.62%) than T1 The TDN intake (P<0.01) was higher by 28.18 percent in group T2 and was lower by 15.16 percent in T3 as compared to T1. It was observed that the gliricidia leaves may replace 25 percent CP of conventional proteins in the diet of crossbred heifers.