Ranjan Kumar Mohanta

Effect of vitamin E supplementation on arsenic induced alteration in blood biochemical profile, oxidant/antioxidant status, serum cortisol level and retention of arsenic and selenium in goats

Arsenic (As) exerts oxidative stress with depletion of body selenium in monogastric animals. But in ruminants this fact is not yet verified. Vitamin E is an effective dietary antioxidant. Thus, in this experiment, the protective effect of vitamin E against arsenic toxicity induced by sodium arsenite (60mg As/kg diet) was investigated in goat kids. For this, 21 male kids were divided into three equal groups and fed either basal diet as such (control), or supplemented with 60mg As/kg diet and 60mg As/kg diet+250IU vitamin E/kg diet for 180 days. Vitamin E supplementation alleviated the toxic effects caused by arsenic on serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase and lipid peroxidation. It also prevented the depletion of reduced glutathione content and reduction in activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-s-transferase in erythrocytes resulted from arsenic intoxication. The elevated levels of arsenic and reduced levels of selenium in the serum and tissues in arsenic treated animals were attenuated by vitamin E supplementation, though not completely. However, serum cortisol level was not affected by arsenic. It was concluded that arsenic exerts cortisol independent stressor mechanism and supplementation of vitamin E at a level of 250IU/kg diet was partially effective in reducing tissue accumulation of arsenic in the body and protect the kids from oxidative stress induced by arsenic.

Effect of Copper Methionine Supplementation on Haemato-Biochemical Profile, Hormones, Serum Copper Status and Immunity in Male Kids

Twenty male goat kids (non-descriptive) of 4–5 months age and 10.94±0.35 kg body weight were allocated into four equal groups in a randomized block design and maintained on a diet of concentrate mixture and wheat straw (60: 40). Treatment animals were fed the same diet as in control group (Con) but they were additionally supplemented with 7 ppm Cu as CuSO4 (Cu-Sulf), 7 ppm Cu as Cu-methionine (Cu-Met7) and 3.5 ppm Cu as Cu methionine (Cu-Met3.5) for 120 days. Blood samples were collected at 40 days intervals up to 120 days. Serum protein fractions, urea, creatinine and cholesterol concentrations were similar in all the groups but Hb level improved due to Cu supplementation. Activity of serum enzymes (alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phospatase and super oxide dismutase) and hormones (T3, T4, testosterone and thyroid stimulating hormone) was also similar in all the groups but ceruloplasmin activity was higher (P<0.05) in Cu-Sulf and Cu-Met7 groups. The change in skin fold thickness and humoral immune response were higher (P<0.05) in Cu-Met7 kids as compared to control ones whereas there was no difference in other supplemented groups. Supplementation of Cu had no effect on serum minerals like Ca and P, however, Cu levels were higher (P<0.05) and Fe level lower (P<0.05) in Cu-Met7 group. Thus, supplementation of Cu improved haemoglobin, serum Cu, ceruloplasmin and immunity in the 7 ppm Cu-methionine supplemented goat kids.

Effect of Supplementing Area Specific Mineral Mixture on Productive Performance of Crossbred Cows

The study examined the efficacy of supplementing area specific mineral mixture on nutrient utilization and productive performance of lactating crossbred cows. Twenty lactating cows with average lactation yield of 2100 L and average days after calving of 95 were selected from the local dairy farms in village Lohali, Majhera in the vicinity of mid hills of Uttarakhand state and randomly divided into two groups of 10 each (T1-control; T2-experimental). The area specific mineral mixture (@ 2% of concentrate mixture) was supplemented in T2 group while the roughage source for animals in both the groups was oak tree leaves. The concentrate and roughage ratio was maintained at about 40: 60 level. A digestibility trial of six days duration was conducted at the end of experimental feeding i.e. 90 days. DM intake, milk yield and milk composition were recorded at fortnightly intervals. Average daily DM intake (kg/d) was not influenced by mineral mixture supplementation with values of 11.40 and 12.16 in control and treatment group, respectively. Nutrient digestibility of CP, EE and NDF was higher (P<0.05) in area specific mineral mixture supplemented animals than control group. Supplementation of area specific mineral mixture improved the mineral status of the animals as reflected in improved serum minerals level. The milk yield increased by 9.5% and FCM yield by 11.8%. It was concluded that dietary supplementation of area specific mineral developed for hills of Uttarakhand improved nutrient utilization, mineral bioavailability and milk production performance in dairy cows fed oak leaves based diet.