Veena Mani

Solid state bioconversion of wheat straw into digestible and nutritive ruminant feed by Ganoderma sp. rckk02

Solid state fermentation (SSF) of wheat straw with Ganoderma sp. rckk02 was carried out for 15 days for improving its digestibility and nutrients. Fungal growth caused a significant (P<0.05) decrease in acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose content till 15th day. In vitro gas production (IVGP) test revealed that 10th day fermented feed possessed higher metabolizable energy (ME: 4.87 MJ/kg), in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD: 334 g/kg) and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs: 1.82 mmol/g Dry Matter). The fermented feed was also evaluated in vivo in goats fed with either untreated wheat straw (T1) or fungal treated straw (T2). Dry matter intake (DMI), digestible crude protein (DCP), total digestible nutrients (TDN) and nitrogen (N) intake were found significantly (P<0.05) increased in T2 group. The study shows that fermentation of wheat straw with Ganoderma sp. rckk02 holds potential in improving its nutritive value.

Effect of Vitamin E Supplementation on Hematological and Plasma Biochemical Parameters during Long Term Exposure of Arsenic in Goats.

The present investigation was designed to determine whether supplementation of different level of vitamin E for 12 months to arsenic exposed goats (50 ppm as sodium arsenite) affords protection against the blood hemato-biochemical parameters caused by the metalloid. A total of 24 crossbred (Alpine×Beetal) lactating goats were assigned randomly into 4 equal groups (control, T1, T2 and T3) of 6 in each, on the basis of average body weight (36.10±0.11 kg) and milk yield (1.61±0.04 kg/d). The animals in T1, T2 and T3 were given 50 ppm arsenic, while in T2 and T3, additionally; vitamin E at the rate of 100 IU and 150 IU/kg dry matter (DM) respectively was additionally supplemented for the period of 12 months. Hemoglobin (Hb), total leukocyte (TLC) and blood lymphocyte % were decreased (p<0.05) in arsenic fed groups and vitamin E supplementation in the experimental group showed a protective potential. Significant increases (p<0.05) in aspertate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities among arsenic supplemented groups were recorded, however vitamin E supplementation at higher doses showed a protective effect (p<0.05) against AST but in the case of ALT no ameliorating effect was found in either of the doses. Plasma total protein was decreased (p>0.05) but creatinine level was periodically increased in all As supplemented groups and vitamin E supplementation did not produce any protective effect. It can be concluded that arsenic exposure resulted in varying degree of changes in hemato-biochemical parameters and activities of antioxidant enzymes in goats but concomitant treatment with Vitamin E is partially helpful in reducing the burden of arsenic induced effect.

Vanadium in Biosphere and Its Role in Biological Processes

Ultra-trace elements or occasionally beneficial elements (OBE) are the new categories of minerals including vanadium (V). The importance of V is attributed due to its multifaceted biological roles, i.e., glucose and lipid metabolism as an insulin-mimetic, antilipemic and a potent stress alleviating agent in diabetes when vanadium is administered at lower doses. It competes with iron for transferrin (binding site for transportation) and with lactoferrin as it is secreted in milk also. The intracellular enzyme protein tyrosine phosphatase, causing the dephosphorylation at beta subunit of the insulin receptor, is inhibited by vanadium, thus facilitating the uptake of glucose inside the cell but only in the presence of insulin. Vanadium could be useful as a potential immune-stimulating agent and also as an antiinflammatory therapeutic metallodrug targeting various diseases. Physiological state and dose of vanadium compounds hold importance in causing toxicity also. Research has been carried out mostly on laboratory animals but evidence for vanadium importance as a therapeutic agent are available in humans and large animals also. This review examines the potential biochemical and molecular role, possible kinetics and distribution, essentiality, immunity, and toxicity-related study of vanadium in a biological system.

Vanadium Supplementation vis-a-vis Growth and Nutrient Utilization in Karan Fries Calves

In order to study the influence of vanadium on growth and nutrient utilization, twenty four Karan fries male calves of 3–6 months of age were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each. All the animals were fed rations comprising of concentrate mixture, green fodder and wheat straw to meet their nutrient requirement (ICAR, 2013). However, vanadium was also given to animals in treatment groups T1, T2 and T3 @ 3, 6 and 9 ppm, respectively for a period of 165 days. Vanadium supplementation did not have any significant effect on DM, CP and TDN intake and digestibility of CP, EE, NDF and ADF. Up to level of 9 ppm, no beneficial or adverse effect on the average body weight and daily gain of Karan fries calves was observed. It was concluded that supplementation of vanadium up to a level of 9 ppm did not influence the growth rate and nutrient digestibility in Karan fries male calves.

Dietary Supplementation of Chicory Root Powder as Prebiotic Source to Augment Health of Murrah Buffalo Calves

For several years antibiotics have been used as a growth promoter and also to obtain economic benefits in terms of improved calves performance and reduced calf mortality. However, the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry is in question because of antibiotic resistance of microorganisms. So the ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in the European Union since January 1, 2006 (EC, 2001) urged the scientist to find a suitable alternative to antibiotics. To overcome these problems and to replace the use of antibiotics prebiotics came up as a good adjuvant to promote the health (Heinrich et al., 2003). Prebiotic supplementation has gained interest in recent years as a method to improve gastrointestinal health in livestock. It has been provided that prebiotic supplementation may be most effective in times of stress or increased pathogen exposure throughout the calf’s lifetime (Quirk et al., 2010). Prebiotics are non-digestible food International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 07 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Effect of inorganic vanadium supplementation on mineral balances and their circulatory levels in karan fries calves

Twenty four male Karan Fries calves of similar age (3–6 month) and body weight (72.85 kg) were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each to study the influence of different levels of vanadium (V) supplementation on mineral balances and plasma mineral levels. Calves in control group were fed a ration consisting of concentrate mixture, green fodder and wheat straw to meet their nutrient requirements (ICAR, 2013). Calves in treatments T1, T2 and T3 were supplemented with 3, 6 and 9 ppm V (DM basis), respectively. During experimental period of 165 days, blood samples were collected at monthly intervals to study the effect of V supplementation on plasma V, Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Zn and Cu concentration. Seven days metabolic trial was conducted at 7th fortnight of the experimental period to study the effect of V supplementation on retention of V, Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Zn and Cu. Vanadium supplementation improved retention V, Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn (P<0.05) but had no effect on retention of P and Mg. Plasma Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Zn and Cu levels were similar in 4 groups but plasma V level increased in supplemented groups. Hence, supplementation of V upto 9 ppm in the ration increased retention of Ca, V, Fe, Cu, Zn in Karan Fries calves.

Bioaccessibility of Copper, Molybdenum and Zinc from Selected Oilseed Cakes Using Three Stage In Vitro Technique

The study was conducted to determine chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and bioaccessibility of (%) of copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo) and zinc (Zn) in mustard (MC), cotton seed (CSC) and maize germ oil cake (MGOC). The values of DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF, ADF and TA in MC were 92.27, 92.43, 38.36, 8.17, 28.11, 21.32 and 7.57%, respectively and the corresponding values in CSC were 92.16, 92.91, 21.11, 6.26, 38.33, 31.14 and 7.09% and MGOC were 93.72, 96.42, 18.56, 8.86, 34.60, 23.71 and 3.58%. The MC, CSC and MGOC had Cu content of 9.87, 11.28 and 8.62 ppm, Mo content of 1.52, 1.69 and 1.12 ppm and Zn level of 58.94, 38.93 and 28.21 ppm, respectively. IVDMD (%) was found to be the highest for MC (68.42±0.35) and the lowest for CSC (59.71±1.07). Bioaccessibility (%) of Cu and Zn was lower (P<0.05) at ruminal stage than abomasal and intestinal stage in all oilseed cakes. The bioaccessibility of Cu was higher in MC (70.99±0.39%) followed by MGOC (68.66±0.12%) and CSC (65.33±0.19%). The bioaccessibility of Zn was higher (P<0.05) in MC (45.00±1.15), followed by MGOC (42.00±0.57) and CSC (38.03±0.67). Bioaccessibility (%) of Mo was numerically increased from ruminal to intestinal stage and overall bioaccessibility (%) of Mo varied from 83.33±0.84 to 85.00±0.23 in all three oilseed cakes with no significant difference among these oilseed cakes.