Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Rumen Modifier and Sodium Sulphate on Methane Production and Performance of Buffalo Calves

The effect of feeding a rumen modifier [mixture of neem seed cake (Azadirachta indica), mahua seed cake (Madhuca longifolia), fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare), harad (Terminalia chebula), fruit pulp of bahera (Terminalia bellerica), amla (Phyllanthus emblica) and ajwain seed (Trachyspermum ammi) in 2:2:2:1:1:1:1 proportion, RM -7] along with sodium sulphate on methane production, nutrient utilization, immune status, metabolic profile and performance of buffalo calves was studied. Twenty one buffalo calves divided into three groups were assigned to three treatments, basal diet (control, T1), basal diet supplemented with RM-7 and sodium sulphate at the rate of 2.0 and 0.06% of dry matter intake (DMI) (T2) and basal diet supplemented with RM-7 and sodium sulphate at the rate of 4.0 and 0.06% of DMI (T3) for a period of 120 days. The diet was comprised of concentrate and roughage in 50:50 ratio. There was no difference (P>0.05) in daily dry matter intake, nutrients digestibility, body weight gain and nitrogen metabolism. The methane production (l/kg digested dry matter intake) was reduced (P<0.05) by 14.9 and 9.6 per cent in T2 and T3 groups as compared to control and resulted in 11.08 per cent less gross energy loss in the form of methane. Humoral and cell mediated immune response showed a significant (P<0.05) improvement in both the treatment groups. The values for haemato–biochemical parameters were similar in all the three groups. It is concluded that the rumen modifier (RM-7) along with sodium sulphate can be used as a feed additive to reduce methane production and improve immune status without affecting animal performance.