B.C. Mondal

Effect of dietary supplementation of Ajwain, hot red pepper and black pepper on the performance, haemato-biochemical and carcass characteristics of Japanese quail

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary supplementation of herbal feed additives viz. ajwain, hot red pepper and black pepper on growth performance, nutrient utilization, haematobiochemical parameters and carcass characteristics in Japanese quail. A 5-week feeding trial was conducted in a completely randomized block design on growing Japanese quail from (2 to 6 weeks of age). Apart from the control group (C), without herbal feed additives, treatment groups T1, T2 and T3 were supplemented at 0.5% ajwain, 0.5% hot red pepper and 0.25% black pepper, respectively in feed where each group was divided into 2 replicates of 15 Japanese quails in each. The results indicated that hot red pepper improved body weight (P 0.05) utilization of crude protein while significantly (Pd”0.05) minimum fat utilization was observed on supplementation of feed additives. The carcass characteristics in terms of dressing percentage increased significantly (P<0.05) and heart, liver and gizzard weights were significantly (P<0.05) highest on black pepper supplementation. The juiciness and overall acceptability of meat of Japanese quail was significantly higher (P<0.05) on addition of dietary red pepper however, texture of quail meat was similar in all the groups. Based on the results it was concluded that the hot red and black pepper could be supplemented as potential herbal feed additive in broiler Japanese quail diet for better performance in terms of weight gain, feed efficiency ratio and carcass characteristics.

Replacement of Dicalcium Phosphate with Diammonium Phosphate in the Diet and Its Effect on Nutrient Utilization and Milk Production in Lactating Crossbred Cattle

Lactating crossbred cows (15) in mid lactation were assessed for their performance after feeding mineral mixture containing diammonium phosphate (DAP) in replacement of dicalcium phosphate (DCP) at different levels. Cows were divided into three groups of five each in such a way that the average milk yield in all the groups was similar. The animals in group 1 were fed ration containing mineral mixture with 0% DAP while those in groups 2 and 3 were fed ration with mineral mixture containing 50 and 100% DAP, respectively by replacing DCP on P content basis. There was no significant effect on the milk yield, milk composition in terms of total solids, fat, protein, lactose, ash, SNF, calcium, phosphorus and gross energy content, gross and net energetic efficiencies and gross and net efficiency of nitrogen utilization for milk production, body weight changes, feed intake and digestibility of nutrients. The values of blood biochemical parameters viz., serum total protein, albumin and globulin contents, serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase, Ca and P were similar in all the groups. However, the digestibility of ether extract was lower (P<0.01) in group 1 than groups 2 and 3. It was concluded that DAP could be incorporated in the mineral mixture up to 100% level on P content basis in place of DCP in the ration of crossbred cows as both supplements showed similar results in terms of milk yield, nutrient utilization and blood biochemical profile in a 60 days feeding trial, however, long term studies are required.

Effect of Dietary Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Kadi (Murraya koenigii) Leaf Powder on Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization in Broiler Chicken

An experiment was conducted on 180 day-old broiler chicks to evaluate the effects of neem (Azadirachta indica) and kadi (Murraya koenigii) leaf powder on the growth performance and nutrient utilization. The six dietary treatments included control (T1), basal diet supplemented with leaf powder @ 0.2% neem (T2), 0.2% kadi (T3), 0.1% kadi and 0.3% neem (T4), 0.3% kadi and 0.1% neem (T5) and 0.2% kadi and 0.2% neem (T6). Each treatment diet was fed ad lib. to three replicated groups of 10 chicks up to 42 days of age. Weekly feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and performance index were recorded. A metabolic trial of 3 days was conducted during 6th week of feeding trial. There was a significant (P<0.05) improvement in body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, performance index and nutrient utilization in broiler chicken of 0.2% kadi and 0.2% neem leaf powder supplemented group. The result of present study revealed that 0.2% kadi plus 0.2% neem leaf powder supplementation improved growth performance and nutrient retention in broiler chicken.