title: Effect of feeding deoiled mahua (Bassia latifolia) seed cake on the growth performance, digestibility and balance of nutrients in cross-bred calves during pre-patent period of Fasciola gigantica infection.
abstract: A study was conducted to assess the growth performance and nutrient utilization of cross-bred calves serially infected with Fasciola gigantica and/or supplemented with deoiled mahua seed cake (DMSC) during pre-patent period of infection. Twenty healthy cross-bred (Holstein Friesian × Haryana) male calves aged 6-7 months with an initial average live weight of 79.6 ± 2.71 kg were divided into four treatment groups (CON, CON-INF, DMC and DMC-INF) of five animals each following randomized block design. DMSC was included in the concentrate mixture of DMC and DMC-INF groups at 100 g/kg level. Animals of groups CON-INF and DMC-INF were given an infection of 200 metacercariae (mc) of F. gigantica as serial infection dose of 50 mc twice weekly over a period of 2 weeks. A metabolism trial at 40-49 days post-infection and growth trial of 145 days duration were conducted. The average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in CON-INF group as compared to others. The ADG and FCR were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in DMC-INF as compared to CON-INF. The intake and digestibility of nutrients were not affected by serial infection with F. gigantica during pre-patent period. However, significantly (p < 0.001) higher urinary excretion and significantly (p < 0.001) lower nitrogen balance were observed in CON-INF group as compared to other three groups. The nitrogen balance was significantly (p < 0.001) improved in DMC-INF group as compared to CON-INF group. From the results, it may be deduced that the supplementation of deoiled mahua seed cake at 100 g/kg level in the concentrate mixture has improved the growth performance and nitrogen utilization in cross-bred calves infected with F. gigantica.
authors: Division of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad, India.
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Jacob
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Singh
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Verma
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D019663:Chenopodiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
keywords: deoiled mahua seed cake; fasciolosis; nutrient utilization; serial infection; supplementation