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Not AvailableIn a 2 × 2 factorial design, 24 newborn, crossbred (Bos indicus × Bos taurus) calves were distributed in 4 equal groups involving dietary treatments of prestarter diets with (FM) or without fish meal (NFM) in a faunated (F) or ciliate - free (D) ruminal environment to study the ruminal fermentative development in pre - and postweaning periods. Defaunation was achieved by rearing calves in isolation and its effect was studied after first appearance of ciliate protozoa (observed after 8 wk of age) in the faunated animals. Calves were fed colostrum for 24 h and whole milk until weaning at 8 wk of age. Ruminal content samples were collected on d 4, 1 wk, weekly to 8 wk, and then biweekly at 9, 11, and 13 wk of age. The samples were analyzed for fermentation products [pH, total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia N] and enzyme [carboxymethyl (CM) cellulase, xylanase, β - glucosidase, α - amylase, β - galactosidase, proteases, and urease] activities. Weekly feed intake increased with age, but was similar in both groups. Ruminal pH declined steadily during 0 to 4 wk of age and then stabilized. The total VFA concentration increased with the age. The ammonia N (mg/dL) concentration increased from 14.9 on d 4 to 32.4 at 4 wk, decreased to 17.6 at 8 wk, and then steadied during the postweaning period. Samples collected on d 4 had no fibrolytic activity. Xylanase (U/dL) appeared first (1 wk) followed by β - glucosidase (U/dL) and CM cellulase (U/dL), which increased steadily from a low of 4.69, 0.08, and 2.95 to 31.8 (6 wk), 5.92 (7 wk), and 19.8 (8 wk), respectively, and the concentrations showed nonsignificant alterations during postweaning periods. The concentration of α - amylase (U/dL) increased from 34.3 on d 4 to 87.2 at 8 wk, and then decreased to 56.6 (13 wk). β - Galactosidase increased up to 6 wk then decreased to trace level (0.20 U/dL) at 13 wk of age. The concentrations of proteases and urease reached a steady state after 1 wk of age. The effect of diet type on ruminal fermentation products and enzyme parameters was nonsignificant. However, a steady and proportional alteration in both parameters in response to dry feed intake with the advancement of age was seen in all calves. Defaunation increased total VFA (97.3 vs. 75.8 mM/L) and α - amylase activity (80.3 vs. 61.4 U/dL) and decreased ammonia N (16.4 vs. 21.1 mg/dL), whereas the effect on other parameters was nonsignificant. Ruminal fermentative changes responded to dry feed intake, but did not differ in response to animal protein in prestarter diet.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableTwenty-four new born crossbred (Bos indicus횞Bos taurus) calves were distributed in two equal groups and assigned to two different pre-starter diets with (Group 1) and without (Group 2) fish meal to study the effect of replacement of animal protein by vegetable protein in the diet and the age of animals on ruminal metabolic development. All calves were fed colostrum for 24 h and whole milk until weaning at 8 weeks of age. Rumen fluid samples were collected on 4 d, 1 wk, and then weekly interval up to 8 wk of age. Rumen fluid samples were analysed for pH, TVFA, lactic acid and N fractions (total N, total soluble N, trichloro acetic acid (TCA) soluble N, TCA precipitable N and ammonia N). Weekly feed intake and live weight gain pattern showed an increasing trend with the advancement of age, but were similar in both groups. The pH fell steadily during 0-4 wk of age and then stabilized in later period. A close relationship (r=0.80) between starter intake and TVFA concentration was observed in both the groups. Lactic acid (meq/l) and ammonia N (mg/dl) concentration showed initial rise (0.55 and 14.97 on day 4 to 3.38 (7 wk) and 32.85 (4 wk), respectively) to fall (2.74 and 17.60) again during 8 wk of age in response to increase in dry feed consumption (10% initially to 83% of diet dry matter at 8 wk of age). The TCA precipitable fraction of N did not show any change during 0-8 wk of age. Data indicate that the metabolic changes responded rapidly to dry feed intake which did not differ in fish meal and non-fish meal groups, and a poor voluntary consumption of oat hay retards the progressive changes in live weight and rumen microbial development.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe present scenario of animal production in India warrants for the search of alternate and cheaper feed ingredients for livestock feeding to economize the animal husbandry. Further more among the different feed additives being used in livestock production, the microbial feed additives (probiotic) are gaining importance as a production enhancer in animals (Dutta et al. 2006, Hummel et al. 2007). The feeding of lactic acid bacteria to the animal results in removal of pathogenic micro-organisms from the intestinal tract reduced incidence of diarrhoea and increased immunity and live weight gain in the livestock (Baksbi and Langer 1990, Cruywagen et al. 1996, Emmanuel et al. 2007). The inconsistency in the results of probiotics feeding might be due to type and quality of strains, physiological stage, dietary condition of the animal and dose of probiotics (Agarwal et al. 2002, Raeth-Knight et al. 2007). The present study was undertaken to study the effect of feeding lactic acid producing bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus jugarti and Lactobacillus case i) with grain or without cereal grain in concentrate mixtures on the nutrient utilization and growth performance of male crossbred cattle calves. Male crossbred (Bos indicusx'Iaurus) cattle calves (20) at the age of 13 weeks were distributed into 4 groups of 5 animals each. The 4 different treatment groups were as group 1 (GC, with grain and LAB culture), group 2 (GCo, with grain without culture), group 3 (GoC, without grain with culture) and group 4 (GoCo, without grain and culture). The rations of the animals were formulated to meet the requirement for 500 g daily body weight gain (NRC 1989) Grain based concentrate mixture (groups GC and GCo) consisted of maize 30%, wheat bran 52%, groundnut cake 15%, mineral mixture 2% and salt 1% and grainless.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableTwenty male crossbred calves of about one year of age (average body weight, 196 kg) were distributed in four equal groups following complete randomized design. Wheat bran was supplemented to four different combinations of wheat straw and green fodder (Sorghum vulgare) at 40:60, 30:70, 20:80 and 10:90 ratios (on as fed basis) for the feeding of animals in Group 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The feeding trial was continued for a period of 70 days including one metabolism trial of 6 days collection of feed, faeces and urine sample to determine the intake and utilization of nutrients. The intakes (g/kg W0.75W0.75) of DM, TDN and CP were 93.0±1.893.0±1.8, 55.5±1.155.5±1.1 and 9.51±0.189.51±0.18 in Group 1; 98.0±1.898.0±1.8, $59.6(pm)1.1$ and 10.33±0.1910.33±0.19 in Group 2; 98.1±2.498.1±2.4, 60.5±1.560.5±1.5 and 10.79±0.2610.79±0.26 in Group 3; and 97.7±1.797.7±1.7, 59.1±1.059.1±1.0 and 10.78±0.1910.78±0.19 in Group 4, respectively. The digestibility of nutrients did not differ significantly among the groups. Relatively higher nutrient intake and balances of nitrogen reflected non - significantly high her live weight gain in the later three groups (436, 439 and 464 g, respectively) as compared to Group 1 (400 g). The DM intake remained unchanged by increasing the proportion of green fodder beyond 20:80 ratio and thus was assessed to be satisfactory for optimum productivity in animals.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableTwenty male crossbred calves of about one year of age (average body weight, 196 kg) were distributed in four equal groups following complete randomized design. Wheat bran was supplemented to four different combinations of wheat straw and green fodder (Sorghum vulgare) at 40:60, 30:70, 20:80 and 10:90 ratios (on as fed basis) for the feeding of animals in Group 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The feeding trial was continued for a period of 70 days including one metabolism trial of 6 days collection of feed, faeces and urine sample to determine the intake and utilization of nutrients. The intakes (g/kg W0.75W0.75) of DM, TDN and CP were 93.0±1.893.0±1.8, 55.5±1.155.5±1.1 and 9.51±0.189.51±0.18 in Group 1; 98.0±1.898.0±1.8, $59.6(pm)1.1$ and 10.33±0.1910.33±0.19 in Group 2; 98.1±2.498.1±2.4, 60.5±1.560.5±1.5 and 10.79±0.2610.79±0.26 in Group 3; and 97.7±1.797.7±1.7, 59.1±1.059.1±1.0 and 10.78±0.1910.78±0.19 in Group 4, respectively. The digestibility of nutrients did not differ significantly among the groups. Relatively higher nutrient intake and balances of nitrogen reflected non-significantly high her live weight gain in the later three groups (436, 439 and 464 g, respectively) as compared to Group 1 (400 g). The DM intake remained unchanged by increasing the proportion of green fodder beyond 20:80 ratio and thus was assessed to be satisfactory for optimum productivity in animals.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableFour fistulated yearling male crossbred cattle calves (average body weight 176 kg) were fed on concentrate devoid of grain and wheat straw in approximately 1 : 1 ratio. The four concentrate mixtures were de-oiled rice bran with 0, 10, 20 and 30% molasses, respectively. To make the four concentrates iso-nitrogenous, groundnut cake was added at the rate of 0, 3, 6 and 9% respectively. The animals were fed in a 4 × 4 switch over design. Each feeding period lasted 4 weeks followed by rumen liquor collection. Dry matter intake was similar in all the groups. The level of molasses in concentrate mixture affected the volatile fatty acids (VFA) production and NH3–N. There was a non-significant increasing trend in the number of large holotrichs and decreasing trend in the number of small holotrichs with increase in the level of molasses in the concentrate mixture. The activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, α-amylase, xylanase and protease did not show definite patterns. The dry matter intake (DMI) and rumen fermentation pattern indicated that de-oiled rice bran with molasses upto 20% level can be a substitute for conventional concentrate mixture for maintenance.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableSaccharomyces cerevisiae ITCCF 2094, NCIM 3052, 1031, 1032, NCDC 42, 45, 47, 49 and 50 were screened for their tolerance to pH 2·0–7·0, various concentrations (0·00, 0·10, 0·25 0·50 and 1·0%) of a mixture of acetic, propionic and butyric acids (70:20:10), and bile salts (0·00, 0·30, 0·60 and 0·90%). Low pH (2·0–4·0) and addition of organic acids or bile salts in the medium inhibited the growth of all the strains tested, but the percentage of inhibition was variable in the different strains of yeast. Two of the strains showing maximum tolerance, 42 and 49, were further tested for in vitro dry matter degradability (IVDMD) using green berseem, wheat straw and oat hay as substrates. Saccharomyces cerevisiae 49 enhanced the IVDMD of berseem and wheat straw whereas S. cerevisiae 42 was ineffective. Based on the results of the present experiment, S. cerevisiae NCDC 49 can be considered as the best strain which might tolerate the adverse conditions in the gastrointestinal tract when used as a live microbial feed supplement in the diet of the animals.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableTwelve non-pregnant crossbred (Bos indicus x Bos taurus) cows at similar stage of lactation, distributed in three groups of four animals each, were fed on basal diet of wheat straw ad libitum and concentrate mixture.as per their requirements. Maize grain in concentrate mixture of control group (1) was replaced either with 50 (Group 2) or 100% (Group 3) wheat bran. The experimental feeding was continued for a period of 98 days. Intake and digestibility of nutrients did not reveal significant difference among the groups. Balances of TDN and CP for growth and milk production were comparable among the groups. Besides lower feed cost for milk production in crossbred cows fed grainless diet, it would spare about 400kg of cereal grain during a lactation cycle. Results indicate that low producing (3kg milk/day) animals can easily be sustained on grainless concentrate mixture without any adverse effect on their health and nutritional status.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableFour groups of newly born crossbred calves (average body weight 23.5 kg) were reared on green berseem and calf starter which was devoid of cereal grains. Milk was fed up to 8 weeks of age, starting with one tenths and gradually reducing to one twentieths of the body weight. One hundred millilitres of microbial feed additive or 100 g fermented feed was fed to the animals of group 2 (curd containing lactic acid bacteria at 10(8) cfu x ml(-1)), group 3 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCDC-49 at 10(6) cfu x ml(-1)) and group 4 (Lactobacillus acidophilus-15 at 10(8) cfu x ml(-1)). Group 1 served as control. The incidence and duration of diarrhoea was lower in the animals of probiotic fed groups as compared to control group. Out of three microbial feed additives, yeast feeding showed maximum suppression of diarrhoea followed by Lactobacillus and curd.Not Availabl