Effect of molasses based multi-nutrient herbal supplements on the performance of buffalo calves

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of molasses based multi-nutrient herbal supplements (MMS) containing ground fenugreek seed and de-oiled mahua seed cake at two different ratios (1:1; MMS-I and 1:3; MMS-II) on growth performance, nutrient utilization and immune response of male buffalo calves. Fifteen male Murrah buffalo calves (10 to 15 months of age and mean body wt. 234–236 kg) were randomly distributed into 3 groups of 5 each. All animals were supplied with conventional concentrate mixture, green forages (3–4 kg DM/d) and wheat straw ad lib. to meet out nutrient requirement. Animals in control group were not fed supplement but animals in group T1 and T2 were fed MMS-I and MMS-II, respectively @ 200 g/100 kg metabolic body weight (kg W0.75). The intake and digestibility of DM, OM, EE, NDF, ADF, hemicelluloses, cellulose and purine derivatives in urine were comparable among 3 groups. Digestibility of crude protein (CP) was higher in supplemented groups (T1 and T2) than control. Total dry matter intake, body weight gain, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) during 270 days were comparable among 3 groups. Both cellular and humoral immune response improved in T1 and T2 groups. The results revealed that molasses based multi-nutrient herbal supplement containing fenugreek and DMSC improved the growth performance, nutrient utilization and immune responses.