Ravindra Kumar Jain

Effect of strategic nutrient supplementation on the reproductive performance of anoestrus crossbred cattle in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh.

In Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh anoestrus is a major problem in crossbred cattle under field conditions due to under feeding and non availability of balanced ration. Thirty anoestrus crossbred cattle {20 heifers (average body wt. 224.75 ±7.41 Kg) + 10 cows (average body wt. 316.50 ± 15.48 Kg , milk yield 4.9 ± 1.25 litre/h/d)} having normal genitalia were selected randomly from ten villages of Indore district. Average daily feed intake of each animal was recorded and proximate principle, major (Ca and P) and trace elements (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and Co) in available feedstuffs were determined to find out nutrient availability. Deficiency of nutrients was calculated by comparing the standard requirements of the animals. A strategic nutrient supplement [soya-De oiled cake, sodium dihydrogen orthophosphate dihydrate, zinc oxide, copper sulphate, vitamin A & E] containing deficient nutrients was formulated on the basis of nutrient deficiency observed in rations of anoestrus cows. Supplementation study was carried out in the same thirty affected anoestrus crossbred cattle by dividing them into two groups of 15 (10 heifers + 5 cows) in each. One of them served as control (un-supplemented), while another was supplemented with strategic nutrient supplement (Treatment). This supplementation study was continued for a period of two months. During which individual animal was regularly examined for onset of estrus and artificially inseminated and after two months of the artificial insemination, pregnancy diagnosis of each animal was carried out per rectally to find out the conception status. Onset of estrus (control vs treatment group) in heifers (10% vs 70%) and lactating cows (20% vs 60%) and conception rate (control vs treatment group) in heifers (10% vs 50%) and lactating cows (20% vs 60%) were higher in the animals of supplemented group, while an additional advantage in the form of improvement (P

Effect of varying dietary protein on food utilization, growth performance and body composition of major carp (Labeo rohita)

Three fish meal based pelleted diets containing 27% (A), 31% (B) and 35% (C) crude protein levels were evaluated for major carp (Labeo rohita) early fry (450) after dividing into three groups of 3 replicates with 50 carps each in a aquaria through a short term laboratory experiment of three weeks. The feed consumption was comparable in all the groups. Feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios were 2.75, 1.36, 2.74, 1.19 and 2.53, 1.14 in groups A, B and C, respectively with no significant difference among groups. Average weight gain (%) was highest (228.16) in group B though numerically comparable among groups. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and crude protein were highest in group C as compared to others, while numerically data remained comparable. Body composition of major carp also indicated numerical superiority (high protein and low AIA content) of group C. Non significant variation in food conversion, protein efficiency ratio as well as protein retention efficiency suggested suitability of lowest protein level. It might be concluded that 27% CP with high carbohydrate (47.97%) might be optimum (77.01 Protein/Energy ratio) to support performance in early fry of major carp fed fish meal based pelleted diets.

Effect of Strategic Nutrients Supplementation on Health, Productive and Reproductive Status of Crossbred Cows in Indore District of Madhya Pradesh

Twenty adult healthy advanced pregnant crossbred cows (Av. BW= 418±12.67 kg) were selected randomly from the study area and feed intake of individual animal was measured to work out nutrient availability. The nutrient availability of individual animal was compared with the nutrient requirements to work out nutrient deficiencies/excess/imbalance. On the basis of results obtained, a strategic nutritional supplement was formulated. Twenty animals were divided into two groups viz., Control/un-supplemented group (n=10) fed on existing ration and treatment/supplemented group (n=10) fed on existing ration supplemented with strategic nutrients (Soya-DOC-300 g, sodium dihydrogen ortho phosphate dehydrate(NaH2PO4.2H2O)- 11 g, zinc oxide-250 mg, copper sulphate- 169 mg, vitamin A (5 lakh IU/g) -210 mg, vitamin E 50% IU/100 g; vitamin E 50% IU/100 g) -1225 mg per head/day in gelatine capsules) during advanced pregnancy for 2 months. Results indicated shortage of DCP, TDN, P, Cu, Zn, vitamin A and vitamin E to the extent of 7.6, 4.5, 12, 48, 46, 52 and 86%, respectively. Whereas the contents of Ca, Fe, Mn, Co and Se were adequate. There were no reproductive and metabolic problems including mastitis in crossbred cows of supplemented group whereas two cows out of ten (20%) suffered from retention of placenta, three from clinical mastitis (30%) and two from subclinical mastitis (20%) in the unsupplemented group. The BCS increased significantly (P<0.05) in supplemented group as compared to un-supplemented group during pre-partum period. The milk yield also increased (P<0.05) in supplemented group (8.85±0.27 L/d) as compared to unsupplemented group (6.68±0.36 L/d). It could be concluded that the strategic nutrients supplementation in the ration of advanced pregnant crossbred cows prevented reproductive problems, metabolic disorders, mastitis and improved BCS and milk yield.

Feeding Patterns, Nutritional Status of Available Feeds During Advanced Pregnancy and Incidence of Reproductive and Metabolic Disorders in Buffaloes of Indore District of Madhya Pradesh

A survey was conducted on feeding pattern along with usage of mineral mixture, salt and occurrence of common pre and post parturient reproductive and metabolic disorders in 10 villages of Mhow tehsil, Madhya Pradesh, India. Ten-twelve farmers from each village were selected randomly and data were collected on feeding pattern. Samples of feedstuffs from each village were collected and pooled for analysis of proximate constituents, Ca, P and trace minerals. The majority of farmers were using mixture of straws (wheat straw + gram straw) as dry roughage (66%) and local grasses as green roughage (55%) along with wheat bran plus cotton seed cake as concentrate (39%). Only 14% farmers used mineral mixture and 65% farmers used common salt as supplements. Out of 815 buffaloes, uterine prolapse was the most prevalent reproductive disorder (8.71%) followed by retention of placenta (7.48%), vaginal prolapse (6.87%). Haemoglobinuria was the most prevalent metabolic disorders in buffaloes (9.30%) followed by milk fever (6.01%). The prevalence of mastitis (10.04%) was higher than other problems in buffaloes. The CP contents in straws ranged from 3.54 to 6.11%, EE from 0.76 to 1.97%, CF from 37.72 to 45.19%, TA from 8.05 to 12.33% and AIA from 1.48 to 6.97%. Among green roughages, CP varied from 4.29 to 7.00%, EE from 1.14 to 1.48%, TA from 7.95 to 10.69% and AIA from 1.61 to 3.98%. Among concentrates, CP level ranged between 12.53 to 20.97%, EE from 1.47 to 8.58%, CF from 5.86 to 29.61%, TA from 4.96 to 14.77% and AIA from 0.58 to 2.59%. Calcium was deficient in wheat bran and cotton seed cake. Phosphorus was deficient in roughages expect in maize fodder. All feedstuffs were high in iron. Copper was deficient in wheat straw, masoor straw, maize fodder and MP chari. All feeds were deficient in Zn except wheat bran and compounded feeds. Cobalt was adequate in all most all feeds. It could be concluded that the advanced pregnant buffaloes were mostly fed on straw based ration with little green and concentrate without mineral supplementation. The prevalence of mastitis was higher than pre and post parturient reproductive and metabolic disorders. The most of the feedstuffs were deficient in P, Cu and Zn.

Nutritional Status and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Anoestrus Crossbred Cattle in Malwa Region of Madhya Pradesh

Reproductive failure is a major problem in crossbred cattle in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. To find out the nutritional causes behind anoestrus, thirty anoestrus crossbred cattle including 20 heifers (BW 224.75±7.41 kg) and 10 cows (BW 316.50±15.48 kg; milk yield 4.9±1.25 L/h/d) were randomly selected from ten villages of Indore district. The average daily feed intake of each animal was recorded and proximate principles, major elements (Ca and P) and trace elements (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and Co) in the available feedstuffs were determined to find out nutrient availability. Deficiency of various nutrients was calculated by comparing availability with standard requirements of the animals. Blood samples were also collected and analyzed for different haemato-biochemical constituents. The average values for Hb 9.19±0.20 and 10.34±0.28 g/dL; blood glucose, 49.29±0.91 and 55.73±1.42 mg/dL; plasma protein 5.05±0.09 and 6.80±0.26 g/dL were found in heifers and cows, respectively. Major mineral profile in heifers and cows were Ca, 9.65±0.17 and 8.81±0.29 mg/dL; P 5.12±0.14 and 5.12±0.34 mg/dL; Total P 15.50±1.14 and 24.00±2.21 mg/dL, respectively. Trace mineral levels in heifers and cows were Fe 24.35±2.12 and 18.96±1.43 ppm; Zn 1.45±0.07 and 1.62±0.09 ppm; Cu 0.65±0.06 and 0.91±0.12 ppm; Mn 0.74±0.10 and 0.86±0.07 ppm; Co 1.82±0.30 and 2.54±0.44 ppm, respectively. Results indicated that values of Hb, blood glucose, total protein, Ca, P, Zn were marginally lower but Cu was deficient in heifers while in cows the levels of Ca, P and Zn were marginally lower. Fe levels were found to be high in both heifers and cows. It may be concluded that dietary deficiency reflected the hemato-biochemical profile of anoestrus animals and a nutrient mixture has been prepared for minimization of anoestrus in crossbred cattle.