Effect of Supplementation of Deoiled Mahua Seed Cake on the Growth Performance and Blood Biochemical Parameters of Crossbred Calves during Recovery Period of Infection from F. gigantica

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of deoiled mahua seed cake (DMSC) in the concentrate mixture of crossbred calves infected with F. gigantica on its growth performance and blood biochemical parameters during recovery period. Twenty healthy crossbred (HF X Haryana) male calves aged 6–7 months with an initial average live weight of 79.59±2.71 kg were divided into four treatment groups (CON, CON-INF, DMC and DMC-INF) of 5 animals each following randomized block design. DMSC was included in the concentrate mixture of DMC and DMC-INF groups at 10% level. Animals of groups CON-INF and DMC-INF were given an infection of 200 metacercariae (mc) of F. gigantica as trickle infection dose of 50 mc twice weekly over a period of two weeks. The average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency were significantly (P<0.001) higher in DMC-INF group compared to CON-INF group. The DMC-INF group regained haemoglobin concentration comparable to that of control group as early as 30 days post treatment (DPT), whereas the CON-INF group took more time to regain the same. In both the CON-INF and DMC-INF groups, the serum glucose, total proteins and its fractions became comparable to that of control groups by 30 DPT. The mean serum concentration of serum AST, LDH and GGT of CON-INF group was significantly (P<0.001) higher than that of CON and DMC-INF groups. However, in DMC-INF group the enzyme values were significantly (P<0.001) lower as compared to CON-INF group and in both the infected groups the enzyme level returned to a normal physiological range by 60 DPT. The study revealed that supplementation of DMSC at 10% level in the concentrate mixture of crossbred calves recovering from F. gigantica in infection helped to recuperate the normal growth performance earlier as compared to unsupplemented animals.