Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Rajasthan Agriculture University, Bikaner-334001, India
*Present Address : Livestock Disease Investigation Station, Bassi (Jaipur).
Online published on 20 January, 2012.
Study was conducted on 8 adult Magra rams of uniform conformity in 4 X 4 double grouping Latin square design and were given four treatments, i.e., control-Beri-pata (Zizyphus nummularia) (T1); Beri-pala treated with 1 per cent formaldehyde (T2); Beri-pala treated with 0.2 per cent Sodium hydroxide (T3) and Beri-pala treated with 0.2 per cent potassium hydroxide (T4). Tannic acid content in Beri-pala leaves was 4.2 per cent in T1 and decreased to 2.18; 3.32 and 3.30 per cent respectively in T2, T3 and T4. Rumen pH, TVFA and total protozoal counts exhibited significant variation in values with time of feeding; however, no significant variation in any of these parameters was observed between the control and other treatment groups at similar hour of observation. Significance of rumen functions on feeding chemically treated Beri-pala has been discussed.
