Herbal feed additives and growth of buffalo calves

The study was undertaken to see the effect of two herbal feed additives, individually or in combination, on the nutrient utilization and growth of buffalo calves. Twenty male buffalo calves, divided into 4 groups were offered a conventional control diet, or control diet supplemented with either Eclipta alba (bhringraj), Kutaki picorrhiza (kutki) or combination of Eclipta alba and Kutaki picorrhiza in 1:1 ratio @ 0.4% of the DM intake. The supplementation of herbal feed additives was withdrawn completely, 30d after the start of the 77d growth trial. Simultaneously, rumen studies were also conducted on 6 rumen fistulated male buffalo calves to assess the effect of herbal feed additives on biochemical changes in the rumen. The data revealed that the daily DM intake, digestibility of nutrients and N retention, various rumen metabolites and live weight gain were comparable among the groups. It was concluded that kutki and bhringraj, alone or in combination, when supplemented @ 0.4% of diet for 30d, did not have any persistent beneficial effects on the performance of buffalo calves till 77d post-exposure.