Department of Animal Nutrition

The enzymes produced by the ruminal microbes digest fibrous feeds in ruminants. Techniques for the estimation of fibre degrading ruminal enzymes have been standardized. Maximum activity of fibre degrading enzymes was found in the particulate material (PM) fraction at 2 hrs post feeding. The activity of xylanase and β-glucosidase was significantly (P< 0.05) higher in animals fed high roughage ration. The difference in the activity of various enzymes with high roughage or high concentrate ration could be the result of change in microbial population affected by diet composition. Mixture of Bacopa monnieri (brahmi), Eclipta alba (bhringraj) and Urtica dioica (bichchu) herbs at 1% level in the concentrate mixture as feed additive in the ration of heifers resulted in better growth and nutrient utilization.

The transgenic cotton seed was found to contain higher percentage of crude protein and ether extract as compared to non-transgenic cotton seed. Both transgenic and non-transgenic cotton seed had similar nutritional values in terms of feed intake, nutrients digestibility, milk yield and milk constituents and without any adverse effect on health status of buffaloes as assessed from hematological constituents.

The protein requirement of dairy animals is considered for the rumen microbial growth and for animal itself. The animal utilizes the microbial protein and dietary undegraded protein (UDP) reaching small intestine. If degradation of protein in rumen is decreased, animal will receive more undegraded protein or by-pass protein at intestinal level and animal will be benefited. Concentrate feeds consists oil cakes, cereals and cereals by-products. The effective dry matter degradability revealed that cotton seed cake is less degradable compared to mustard cake and linseed cake. Increased UDP level in the diet did not affect the blood biochemical constituents and serum enzyme activities and might decreased stress on hepatic tissue. Increasing UDP level from 41% to 48% of dietary CP and also increasing plane of nutrition from 100% to 115% of NRC requirements, though non-significant, but maintain a consistently higher milk production and also there was an increase in body weight gain.

Feed intake and palatability of urea treated wheat/paddy straw was increased. Milk production was increased in crossbred cattle fed with urea treated wheat/paddy straw. The animals fed urea treated straw did not show any adverse effect. Urea concentration in the milk of animals fed urea treated straw was estimated and the results revealed that the qualitative test was negative while the quantitative test indicated that urea in the milk was within safe limit. The wheat/paddy straw can be treated at the rate of 4 kg urea per 100 kg straw. Four kg urea is dissolved in 40 litres of water and mixed thoroughly with 100 kg straw and stored after pressing it properly for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks it can be fed to dairy animals of the age above than 6 months. The nutritive value of straw increases and is utilized better by the dairy animals.

Feeding bypass fat (calcium salts of palm oil fatty acids) at 4 per cent level in concentrate mixture is beneficial in terms of improvement in milk yield and unsaturated fatty acids in milk fat without affecting the digestibility of nutrients. Increase in unsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid, linoleic and linolenic acid in milk of cows fed calcium salts of palm oil fatty acids may be beneficial to consumers. Thus supplementing the ration of lactating cows with bypass fat improved the milk production as well as milk quality.

Green to fodder ratio of 60:40 in terms of dry matter availability was found to be adequate in growing and lactating cattle. For growing heifers under farm conditions TMR containing mustard oil cake is recommended for best result. Wheat bran is cheaper than maize and could be used to the extent of 80% of the requirement in concentrate mixture. Lactating cows kept under farm conditions also produced more milk, consumed lesser TMR containing mustard oil cake.

In hilly and mountain zone of Uttarakhand, the mineral mapping was done in Pithoragarh and Nainital districts of Kumaun division and Pauri district of Garhwal division; whereas under Tarai plain zone, it was done in Udham Singh Nagar district of Kumaun division and Haridwar district of Garhwal division. Based on the deficiencies of minerals, the various Area Specific Mineral Mixtures (ASMM) were developed and incorporated in the ration of dairy animals under field conditions which helped in improving the milk production and in ameliorating the reproductive problems. The mineral supplementation recommended in Hilly region viz., in Pithoragarh district are calcium, phosphorus, copper and manganese; in Nainital district calcium, phosphorus, copper, manganese and zinc and in Pauri district phosphorus and copper; while in plain region viz., in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar calcium, phosphorus and copper. Above Area Specific Mineral Mixture (ASMM) is recommended to be included in the ration of the animals for balancing the ration under feeding practices/systems in Uttarakhand for improving the milk production, maintaining good health and reproductive performance of dairy animals.

• Incorporation of sahjan leaf powder and tejpatta powder @ 0.25% in broiler diet increases growth performance.
• Incorporation of guava leaf powder @ 1% in broiler diet reduces serum cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and liver enzymes, whereas it increases serum protein and globulin content as well as growth rate.
• Supplementation of mulberry leaf powder in diet containing phytase enzyme improves egg yolk pigmentation and performance in commercial laying hens.
• Supplementation of mushroom waste powder @ 3% in diet improved the growth performance, and incorporation @ 4% in the diet of layer birds improved egg production, egg quality and health status in RIR chicken.
• Incorporation of Moringa leaf meal @ 3% in Japanese quail broiler and @ 5% in Japanese quail layer improves growth performance and egg production as well as quality parameters of egg and meat.