Livestock Production Research Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar-Kumaon-263 138, India
*Present add: Plant Animal Relationship Div. Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi-284 003
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Thirty guinea-pigs (I-IV2 m; 210–270 g) were divided into 5 treatment groups (T1 to T5). The animals in group T1, were fed on 100% Kikuyu (P. clandestinum) grass as roughage while in other groups Kikuyu grass was replaced with increasing levels of whole potato plant i.e. 25 (T2), 50 (T3), 75 (T4) and 100% (T5), supplemented with concentrate mixture. After preliminary feeding for 45 d, a digestibility trial for 5 d collection was conducted. There was significant difference (P<0.01) in daily weight gain among treatments (6.3±0.2, 5.9±0.1, 5.7±0.2, 5.9±0.2 and 5.1±0.2 g/d for T1 to T5, respectively). Feed: gain ratio was substantially wider (P<0.01) in T and T. Similarly, digestibility coefficient of proximate principles were significantly reduced (P<0.01) with increasing level of potato plant in the diet. The decrease was about 2–5% in T and T and 8–12% in T4 and T5. The differences were non-significant among the 5 treatments for Hb, RBC, PCV, TLC, PP and DLC. Histopathological findings revealed no difference between T1 and T2 but in T3, T4 and T5 groups hepatic cells showed cloudy swelling or degenerative changes. In T and T, groups eosinophilic homogeneous casts were seen in renal tubular lumina and in bowman's capsule. The overall findings revealed that potato plant could be toxic even at 25% inclusion as greens.
