Effect of urea supplemented and urea treated straw based diet on milk urea concentration in crossbred Karan-Fries cows

Effect of supplementation of niacin on physiological and blood biochemical parameters in crossbred cows during heat stress

In order to investigate the effect of different levels of niacin supplementation on physiological and blood biochemical parameters during heat stress period (April to August; 120 days), eighteen crossbred early lactating cows (2nd to 4th lactation; 11.56±1.74 days in milk) were divided into three groups of six animals each. The basal ration was fed same to all cows (Green fodder, straw and concentrate was fed as per NRC, 2001), except the addition of niacin @ 600 and 800 mg/kg dry matter intake (DMI) in T1 and T2 groups, respectively. The temperature humidity index (THI) was calculated at 07:30 am and 02:30 pm daily. Fortnightly physiological parameters were recorded and blood was collected from the jugular vein at day 0 and subsequently at 15–day interval from all the experimental animals to study blood biochemical parameters. The results revealed that animals were in either moderate or severe stress at morning, whereas during afternoon the animals were in very severe stress during the entire trial. Supplementation of niacin @ 800 ppm niacin decreased significantly skin temperature, respiration rate, cortisol, super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (P<0.05). Plasma NEFA was significantly low in both niacin supplemented groups (P<0.05). Plasma urea was found significantly (P<0.05) high in T2 (26.59) in comparison to control (24.90) and T1 (25.37). It is concluded that 800 ppm niacin supplementation to lactating crossbred cows resulted in better stress alleviation as indicated by the improved biomarker values viz., SOD, catalase, cortisol and skin temperature.

Effects of Some Additives on In Vitro True Digestibility of Wheat and Soybean Straw Pellets

This study was aimed to explore the nutrient content, relative feed values (RFV) and in vitro true digestibilities (IVTD) of wheat straw and soybean straw pellets produced with the addition of molasses, guar meal and sepiolite. In this experiment, 16 groups were created for 2 different straws (wheat/soybean straws), 2 different sepiolite applications (available/not available) and 4 different applications (control, guar meal, molasses, guar meal+molasses) in accordance with the 2×2×4 factorial design. A Daisy incubator was used to determine the IVTD of the feeds. According to the results, molasses and guar meal increased the RFV of soybean straws, while molasses and guar meal treatments and sepiolite did not affect the RFV of wheat straws. It was observed that sepiolite increased the RFV’s of soybean straw for guar meal and guar meal+molasses. The higher IVTD’s were found for guar meal (without sepiolite) treatment of soybean straw and guar meal (with sepiolite) treatment of wheat straw. Molasses and guar meal addition to wheat and soybean straws improved the crude protein contents. In conclusion, straw pelleting can be used as an alternative forage conservation method to close the gap in forage supply during the winter.