Conch Shell (Turbinella pyrum) Powder: A Potential Marine Biological Source of Calcium and Some Trace Minerals for Growing Crossbred Calves.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding conch shell (Turbinella pyrum) powder (either fresh or calcined) as a marine organic source of calcium (Ca) supplemented in the diet of crossbred calves on voluntary intake, growth performance, and blood biochemistry in growing crossbred Jersey calves. A growth trial of 90 days was conducted on 15 Jersey crossbred female calves (Av. weight, 70.68 ± 2.90 kg; Av. age, 197.73 ± 12.40 days), equally divided into three groups of 5 animals each, i.e., control (T0), treatment 1 (T1), and treatment 2 (T2). All animals were fed total mixed ration (TMR) prepared with a concentrate mixture, chaffed paddy straw, and green fodder at the ratio of 40:30:30 on DM basis. Calves under the control group were fed with TMR containing a standard mineral mixture having dicalcium phosphate (DCP) as a Ca source. Calves under T1 group were supplemented with TMR containing fresh conch shell powder (FCSP), and T2 calves were fed with TMR containing conch shell calcined powder (CSCP) as Ca source. We observed 11.66% increase (p < 0.01) in Ca concentration in CSCP compared to FCSP. The concentration of minerals like Mg, Co, Mn, and Fe was enhanced in CSCP compared to the FCSP. However, the calcination process of fresh conch shell powder (FCSP) reduced the concentration of Cu, and Zn. The Ca/P ratio was estimated as 2.11, 2.06, and 2.10 in T0, T1, and T2 diets, which could be considered ideal for calf ration. Calves under T1, and T2 groups consumed significantly (p < 0.001) greater amounts (g/kg W0.75) of DM and CP compared to T0. However, increased voluntary intake did not translate into increased body weight gain (kg), and feed conversion ratio (kg DMI/kg gain) in T1 and T2 groups in comparison to T0. We observed similar blood glucose, urea, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) concentration among the three treatments. Ca, and P levels in blood plasma were also identical among the three groups. The digestibility of Ca was increased significantly (p = 0.01) in FCSP (T1)- and CSCP (T2)-treated calves compared to control (T0) calves. Similarly, T1 and T2 enhanced P digestibility compared to T0. This first report with short-term experimentation depicted some promising scope for the use of locally available conch shell powder (fresh or calcined form) as a potential source of Ca for feeding to livestock, because these new sources of Ca did not affect intake, digestibility of Ca and P, growth performance, blood chemistry, and liver enzymes negatively in weaned crossbred calves.

Influence of Dietary Supplementation of Inorganic and Organic Chromium on Body Conformation, Carcass Traits, and Nutrient Composition in Muscle and Internal Organs of Black Bengal Goats.

The effect of dietary inorganic and organic chromium (Cr) on body morphometry, carcass traits, and nutrient composition, including different minerals and fatty acids in meat and internal organs of Black Bengal goats, was studied. Thirty weaned Black Bengal kids of 3-5 months (5.40 ± 0.34 kg body weight) were assigned randomly into five groups and fed additional Cr for 150 days. The experimental diets comprised a basal diet supplemented with Cr at the rate of 0 (control; without Cr supplementation), 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg of inorganic Cr (Cr(III)-chloride), and 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg of organic Cr (Cr-yeast). The body morphometry such as body length, heart girth, paunch girth, loin width, leg circumference, and the carcass traits, namely, slaughter body weight, dressing percentage, hind quarter and forequarter weight, and rib eye area of goats, were not significantly (P < 0.05) changed due to inorganic and organic Cr supplementation. However, organic Cr supplementation (1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg) resulted in a reduction of breast and back fat thickness (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. The weights of internal organs including liver, lungs, spleen, kidney, testes, and heart and their weights as a percentage of slaughter weight were similar (P > 0.05) among different experimental groups. Dry matter, ether extract, and total ash concentrations of muscle and internal organs of Cr-supplemented groups were not affected (P > 0.05) by Cr supplementation. However, crude protein contents in the liver, muscle, kidney, and lungs were greater (P < 0.05) in the organic Cr groups than in the control and inorganic Cr groups. In meat (longissimus dorsi muscle), total saturated fatty acid concentration was lower (P < 0.05; 59.4% versus 55.7%) and the unsaturated fatty acid concentration was greater (P < 0.05; 40.6% versus 44.3%) including palmitoleic acid, heptadecenoic acid, elaidic acid, and arachidonic acid in the organic or inorganic Cr-supplemented groups than in the basal diet group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of organic Cr in Black Bengal goats has no influence on the carcass traits, but may improve the meat quality with greater protein content, lean, and healthier fatty acids for human consumption.

The Effects of Dietary Inorganic and Organic Chromium Supplementation on Blood Metabolites, Hormones, and Mineral Composition of Blood and Internal Organs in Black Bengal goats.

The present study was performed to evaluate the influence of dietary inorganic and organic chromium (Cr) supplementation on blood biochemical constituents and mineral concentrations as well as the changes in the mineral composition of internal organs of Black Bengal goats. Thirty Black Bengal kids of 3 to 5 months (5.40 ± 0.34 kg body weight) were allocated randomly to five treatment groups. The five groups were control (without added Cr in a basal diet), 1.0, 1.5 mg/kg of inorganic Cr, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg of organic Cr added per kilogram of feed dry matter. The duration of the experiment was 150 days during which the changes in the blood biochemical and mineral concentrations at 0, 30, 60, and 150 days were evaluated. At the end of the trial, mineral composition in the muscle, skin, and internal organs (liver, lungs, kidney, heart, spleen, and testis) were analyzed. Any blood variables were not affected at or before 60 days of Cr supplementation. Both inorganic and organic Cr supplementation lowered (P < 0.05) concentrations of blood glucose, cortisol, non-esterified fatty acids, and ß-hydroxybutyric acid after 60 days of Cr supplementation. Organic Cr-supplemented groups exhibited higher (P < 0.05) blood insulin concentration and neutrophil activity compared to the control. Supplementation of Cr in either form had no substantial effect (P > 0.05) on the blood hemoglobin, total leukocyte count, total protein, albumin, globulin, immunoglobulin G, total antioxidant capacity, and liver enzymes (aminotransferases) concentration, and also blood minerals (zinc, iron, and manganese) concentration. Blood Cr and copper concentrations were increased (P < 0.05) due to both organic and inorganic Cr supplementation. Minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese) concentrations of internal organs of Cr-supplemented groups were mostly not affected (P > 0.05) by Cr supplementation. However, the concentrations of Cr and copper in blood and Cr in all internal organs, skin, and muscle of organic Cr-supplemented groups were higher (P < 0.05) than in those fed the basal diet. In conclusion, dietary inorganic and organic Cr supplementation, especially the organic form, after long term supplementation (> 60 days) could be beneficial in regulating blood glucose and fat metabolism and the immune status of Black Bengal goats.

Influence of pre and postpartum alpha-tocopherol supplementation on milk yield, milk quality, and udder health of Jersey crossbred cows at tropical lower Gangetic region.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Alpha-tocopherol supplementation influences milk yield, milk quality, and udder health of dairy cows, which needs to be investigated for Jersey crossbred cows at hot-humid climate. Therefore, the present study was framed with an objective to study the effect of pre and postpartum Alpha-tocopherol supplementation on milk yield, milk quality, and udder health status of Jersey crossbred cows at tropical climate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this study, 19 similar parity, body condition score, and production level dairy animals were separated randomly into three groups, namely, Control, T1 and T2. Control group (no supplementation) was compared with two treatment groups, namely, T1 and T2. Supplementation of Alpha-tocopherol was done in concentrate fed to the animals (at 1 g/cow/day) 30 days prepartum to 30 days postpartum in T1 and 30 days prepartum to 60 days postpartum in T2 groups. Observations were taken for different parameters up to 5 months of lactation. RESULTS: Statistically analyzed data revealed that overall significantly (p<0.01) more milk production was found in T2, followed by T1 than the control group. Overall significantly (p<0.01) lower somatic cell counts and modified California mastitis tests were recorded in T2, followed by T1 than the control group. Overall significantly (p<0.01), better milk quality in terms of methylene blue reduction test was found in T2, followed by T1 than control groups. Differences in the milk composition of all three groups were non-significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Supplementation of Alpha-tocopherol during prepartum to initial lactation period may enhance milk yield, milk quality, and udder health status of Jersey crossbred cows at the tropical lower Gangetic region.

Effect of combined herbal feed additives on methane, total gas production and rumen fermentation.

The present study was to evaluate effect of herbal feed additives on methane and total gas production during the rumen fermentation for environment and animal health concern. Different parts of the five medicinal plants were selected such as leaf and small stems of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), roots of Curcuma longa (Haldi), fruits of Emblica officinalis (Amla), leaves of Azadirachta indica (Neem) and leaves and small stem of Clerodendrum phlomidis (Arni) for our study. Addition of different herbal additive combinations did not influence IVDMD and total gas production however methane production (mg/g of substrate DM) was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in Amla: Neem and Neem: Arni combinations. Total nitrogen significantly (P<0.01) increased in the combinations of Tulsi: Haldi and Amla: Neem. TCA-ppt-N is significantly (P<0.01) increased in Tulsi: Haldi, Haldi: Amla, Amla: Neem and Neem: Arni however NH3-N (mg/dl) significantly decreased in all treatments. We conclude that the screening of plant combinations, Amla: Neem and Neem: Arni have potential to decrease methane production and our herbal feed supplements have no side-effects on the ruminant in small amount.