Usha R. Mehra

Nutrient utilization and rumen fermentation pattern in crossbred cattle fed different planes of nutrition supplemented with urea molasses mineral block

In order to investigate the effect of the plane of nutrition on intake and nutrient utilization from urea molasses mineral blocks (UMMB) and rumen fermentation pattern, sixteen adult crossbred cattle were divided into four equal groups following a completely randomised design and fed individually for 60 days ad libitum with either wheat straw alone (Group I) or with wheat straw with UMMB (Group II) or with wheat straw and UMMB with 50% of energy requirements provided by crushed barley fortified with mineral mixture and common salt (Group III) or with wheat straw and UMMB with 100% of energy requirements provided by fortified crushed barley (Group IV). At the termination of the feeding trial, a metabolism trial of six days duration was also conducted. A fermentation study was carried out on four rumen fistulated adult cattle following a 4 × 4 latin square design. Results showed that intake (except for ether extract) and digestibility of all the nutrients increased significantly (P < 0.01) in the block-fed groups which was further enhanced by energy (barley) supplementation except for digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) which decreased owing to concentrate supplementation. Total digestible nutrients and digestible protein contents of UMMB were 56.6 and 42.5%, respectively. Significantly increased (P < 0.01) concentrations of total nitrogen and its fractions, except TCA-precipitable-N owing to block feeding were observed. However, it did not influence the TVFA concentration in rumen liquor of fistulated animals. Rumen pH, rumen fluid volume and digesta flow rate were also unaffected. This clearly indicated that supplementing 50% of energy requirements through concentrate on a straw based diet along with UMMB resulted in increased intake of UMMB and better utilization of dietary nutrients in adult crossbred cattle.

Urea Molasses Mineral Blocks as a Feed Supplement: Effect on Growth and Nutrient Utilization in Buffalo Calves

Twenty male buffalo calves of about 9–13 months of age were divided at random into five groups of four animals each. All the animals were individually offered wheat bhoosa (chopped straw) ad libitum and wheat bran and oil-extracted rice bran each at 500 g day−1. Calves of Groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were given urea molasses mineral block (UMMB as lick) ad libitum. In addition, calves of Groups 3, 4 and 5 were supplemented with fish meal at the rate of 50, 100 and 150 g, respectively. The UMMB contained 38% molasses, 10% urea, 10% cement, 40% wheat bran, 1% salt and 1% mineral mixture. After a feeding period of 130 days, a metabolism trial of 7 days duration was conducted. The average daily dry matter intake was higher (P < 0.01) in Groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 than Group 1. The calves gained faster in Group 4 (288 g day−1) as compared with Groups 1 (90 g day−1), 2 (166 g day−1), 3 (179 g day−1) and 4 (275 g day−1). The digestibility coefficient of DM, OM, nitrogen, EE, ADF and NDF were significantly increased in groups supplemented with UMMB and fish meal. The balance of N was more (P < 0.05) in Groups 2 and 3 than Group 1 which further increased (P < 0.01) on supplementation of fish meal. Calcium and phosphorus balances were also increased (P < 0.01) as a result of supplementation of UMMB and fish meal. It may be concluded that the prevailing practice in the rural areas of developing countries of keeping growing calves solely on wheat bhoosa and a small amount of poor-grade concentrate is not satisfactory. This feed can be economically supplemented with UMMB and 100 g fish meal to maintain a fairly good growth rate for the calves.

Utilization of ammoniated wheat straw given in a feed block and supplemented with varying quantities of fish meal and oil-extracted rice bran

The effect of small amounts of fish meal on the utilization of ammoniated wheat bhoosa (chopped straw) was examined in seven groups of three buffalo calves. All animals were offered ammoniated wheat straw (69.5%) mixed manually with molasses (29%), common salt (0.5%), a mineral supplement (1.0%) and a vitamin supplement (25 g (100 kg)−1 feed) which was compressed into a block weighing 6–7 kg. The blocks were supplemented with fish meal at the rate of 0, 25, 50, 100 or 200 g day−1; two additional groups received 25 or 50 g fish meal day−1 and 500 g oil-extracted rice bran per animal. A metabolism trial of 7 days duration was conducted at the end of a 95-day feeding trial. Dry matter intake was significantly increased in animals supplemented with fish meal. There were no significant differences in the digestibility of nutrients. Daily live weight gains were 105, 125, 209, 230 and 301 g in the groups offered increasing quantities of fish meal and 323 and 389 g in the groups offered 25 and 50 g fish meal and rice bran. It is concluded that a complete feed block containing ammoniated wheat straw, molasses, minerals, salts, vitamins and a small amount of bypass protein is suitable for animals experiencing drought and famine. The blocks occupy less space than uncompressed feed and are easy to handle and store.

Nutrient utilization by Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from compressed complete feed blocks

Twelve Murrah male buffaloes of 3.5 years age, weighing 370.3 ± 8.41 kg were assigned to three diets in different physical forms with similar ingredient composition comprising of wheat straw, sugarcane molasses, crushed maize, deoiled peanut meal, mineral mixture, sea salt along with vitablend @ 690, 100, 100, 100, 6,4 and 0.2 g kg−1, respectively in a randomized block design. The animals on Diet 1 received wheat straw impregnated with molasses and concentrate mixture separately, while those on Diet 2 were fed the total feed as a complete mix. Diet 3 was offered after moulding complete mix into a compressed complete feed block (CCFB), prepared with the help of indigenously designed and fabricated feed block machine operable on compression technology. A metabolism trial of seven days duration was conducted after 60 days feeding trial in order to assess nutrient utilization and retention as well as plane of nutrition. The physical form of the diet had no significant influence on nutrient utilization as well as on the digestibility of various nutrients. But feeding of CCFB resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) higher intake of DM and digestible DM and in turn in the intake of all other nutrients as compared to the feeding of diets in other two ways. Though, daily nitrogen retention was not affected, the feeding of CCFB diet resulted in higher (P < 0.05) retention of calcium and phosphorus. Thus, CCFB would be a balanced wholesome diet for ruminants. Because of a decrease in the bulk density, the handling, storage and transportation becomes easy and economical. Further, they can be a part of famine feed banks for drought prone regions of developing countries as evolved technology is easy to adapt.

Effect of hydrogen peroxide treatment on the utilization of lignocellulosic residues by rumen micro-organisms

Oat straw, wheat straw and sugar-cane bagasse were treated by incubation for 21 days with various combinations of hydrogen peroxide, ammonia and urea. The polyester bag (in sacco) technique was employed to measure rumen microbial degradation of treated feeds. Analyses of treated material indicated that urea, and peroxide plus urea, were significant in solubilizing lignin and thus enhancing the cell contents. H2O2 treatment enhanced (P < 0·01) the extent of digestion of DM, NDF, ADF and cellulose over 48 h for wheat straw and sugar-cane bagasse. Ammoniation increased (P < 0·01) the rumen degradability of DM and CWC of the crop residues studied, though the response with sugar-cane bagasse was poor. Hydrogen peroxide in combination with aqueous ammonia treatments gave significantly (P < 0·01) higher in sacco degradability values than other alkaline H2O2 treatments. However, H2O2 treatment of sugar-cane bagasse increased (P < 0·01) the fermentability of structural carbohydrates more than alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatments.

Studies on the nutritional improvement of sorghum stover (Jowar Kadbi) through ammoniation by urea ensiling

Abstract Sorghum stover was ensiled with five levels of urea (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8%) at about 50% moisture level in sealed polythene bags for 0, 15, 30 and 45 days. The crude protein content increased immediately after treatment but slightly decreased after 15 days, remaining almost stable thereafter. The rumen disappearance of crude protein determined by nylon-bag technique was highest in the 8% urea group and it was almost similar after 30 days of ensiling. The ruminal disappearance of fibre fractions significantly increased at 4% urea and 30 days ensiling. Further increase in the urea level and ensiling period did not bring about a tangible increase.

Haematological and biochemical changes in Fasciola gigantica infected buffaloes fed on diet containing deoiled mahua (Bassia latifolia) seed cake

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of condensed tannins and saponins from deoiled mahua seed cake (DMSC) on the development of fasciolosis. Fifteen male buffaloes were randomly divided into three groups of five each and were orally infected with Fasciola gigantica metacercaria at 800 per animal. DMSC was included in the concentrate mixture of group 2 (M5) and group 3 animals (M10) at 5 and 10%, respectively and group 1 remained as the non-supplemented control (C) group. Hypo-albuminemia, hyper-globulinemia and decrease in Albumin:Globulin (A:G) ratio were the significant features in C and M5 group. The group M10 was characterised by higher haemoglobin and packed cell volume and lower plasma total protein concentration, antibody response and faecal egg count than C and M5 group. This combined with higher plasma albumin, creatinine and lower globulin concentration in group 3 animals were conclusive of lower intensity infection as compared to other groups. It is concluded that condensed tannin and saponins of DMSC (10% of DMSC in concentrate mixture) possess remarkable anti-fasciolic activity.

Performance of Crossbred Heifers During Revival Period after Long Term Scarcity Feeding

Abstract Verma, A.K., Mehra, U.R., Dass, R.S., Varshney, V.P. and Kumar, H. 1995. Performance of crossbred heifers during revival period after long term scarcity feeding. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 8: 63–70. Growth performance of five crossbred heifers, which were earlier kept solely on urea molasses liquid diet (UMLD) for a period of 300 days was studied during revival period of six months, when these and the contemporary control group heifers were fed wheat straw and concentrate mixture as per their requirements (NRC, 1989). Nutrient intake (g/100 kg body weight) and body weight gain (476.6 g/d) in experimental group were higher (P<0.01) during the revival period than that of group I. However, nutrients digestibility and balances of N, Ca, and P did not vary significantly between the two groups. Similarly, the plasma concentration of T3 and T4 was alike in both the groups in all the periods. Their genitalia were normal and all the animals showed oestrous symptoms. It can be concluded that revival feeding impr...

A note on the relationship between the production rates of volatile fatty acids and their concentration, digestible organic matter and total digestible nutrient intake in buffalo calves

Abstract Volatile fatty acid (VFA) production rates were measured by isotope dilution technique in the rumen of buffalo calves fed on wheat straw plus concentrate, green maize, cow pea and berseem. Correlations derived between the VFA production rates and their concentration and DOM were significant except in animals fed on cow pea. The VFA production rates were also significantly correlated with the TDN intake in all the four feeds tested. The regression equations obtained for the four feeds were different, which suggested that VFA production may vary with the quantity and quality of feed digested. These experiments suggest the use of different regression equations for different feeds.

Comparison of the production rates of bacteria in the rumen estimated by using labelled live and formaldehyde treated mixed bacterial cells

The bacteria production rates in the rumen have been estimated by injecting14C- and35S-labelled mixed rumen bacteria, either live or killed by treatment with formaldehyde, into the rumen and applying isotope dilution technique. The rate of bacteria production when estimated by using either live- or dead-(protected-)labelled bacterial cells were comparable.