Effect of herbs as feed additive on nutrient utilization and growth in crossbred heifers fed paddy straw based ration

A study was conducted to assess the efdfect of herbs-Asprangus recemosus. Urtica dioica, BacopaMonnieri, Eclipta alba and Cryptoleptis buchanani as feed additive in growing crossbred heifers fed paddy straw as basal roughage in terms of growth and nutrient utilization, Crossbred heifers (21) of 6 to 12-months age were divided into 3 groups of 7 each. All the animals were fed restricted quantity (2 kg green/animal)of available green fodder ( berseem/maize), paddy straw ad lib, and concentrate mixture as per requirement. The feeding trial lasted for 150 days. Animals in fgroup 1 served as a control group, while animals in group 2 were fed concentrate mixture containing a mixture of Aspragus recemosus and Cryptolepisbuchanani at 1% level as feed additive. Whereas, animals in group 3 were offered concentrate mixture containing a mixture of Urticla dioica, Eclipta alba and Bacopca monnieri at 1% level as feed additive. Heifgers consumed 3.42±0.22, 3.46±0.19, and 3.65±0.21 kg dry matter per day in groups 1,2 and 3, respectively. The average dry matter intake per 100 kg body weight, dry matter intake per kg metabolic body size did not differ significantly among the heifers of different groups. The TDN and DCP intake/W75 kg also did not differ significantly among the 3 group of heifers. However, DCP intake (kg/day) was significantly higher in group 3 animals, fed Bacopa monnieri, utrica dioiva and Eclipta alba. The digestibility coefficient of OM, CP and CF was significantly (P&ltO.O5) higher in the animals of group 3. The average total body weight gain during growth trial in groups 1, 2 and 3 was 57.34±1.89, 62.88±0.63 and 70.58±2.35 kg, respectively, and was significantly higher in group 3. Feed conversion ratio (DMI/kg gain) during the fedding trial was 9.39±0.36, 8.69±0.49 and 8.11±0.41 kg in the animals of groups 1,2 and 3. respectively, and did not differ significantly. The results revealed that supplementation of a mixture of Bacopa monnieri ,Eclipta alba and Urtica dioica herbs as a feed additive improved the utilization of nutrients and had beneficial effect on growth in growing crossbred hiefers.