1Livestock Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar-385506, India
2Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar-385506, India
Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar-385506, India
*Corresponding author: mahespawar@gmail.com
Online published on 16 September, 2021.
Castor oil, with its property as a functional oil that provides health benetits besides its nutritional properties, can be used as phytogenic feed additives as an alternative to antibiotics. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of castor oil supplementation on milk yield, milk fatty acids composition and blood variables of lactating Kankrej cows. Twenty Kankrej cows (average 21 d in milk; 10.27 kg/d of milk yield, 3.5 parity and 421.8 kg BW) were used in a randomized complete block design experiment that lasted for 90 d. Cows were assigned to the following treatments: control (CON), a basal diet without feed additive; castor oil (CAS), basal diet added 15 mL castor oil per cow daily. The additive was provided mixed into the concentrate. Feed intake and feed efficiency did not differ (P>0.05) between the CON and CAS groups. The BW gain was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the CAS group than die CON group. Feeding of castor oil did not affect (P>0.05) milk, FCM and ECM yield, and milk composition in dairy cows. Castor oil addition in cow diet resulted in significantly (P<0.05) decreased milk saturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids, whereas increased (P < 0.05) milk unsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. No difference (P > 0.05) in concentrations of red blood cell means (haemoglobin, haematocrit, erythrocytes, MCV, MCH, MCHC) and white blood cell means (leucocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes). The higher (P<0.05) serum glucose and lower urea concentrations were observed in CAS than in the CON. It was concluded that there was no effect on feed intake, milk yield and milk composition due to supplementation of castor oil. However, the inclusion of castor oil at 15 mL/d in the diet of dairy cows increased body weight gain, blood glucose, milk fat concentrations of MUFA and PUFA, decreased milk SFA, serum urea concentration without any adverse effect on the health status of cows.
Blood metabolites, Fatty acid profile, Functional oil, Kankrej cow, Milk yield
