Plasticity of gut and metabolic limitations of Deoni calves in comparison to crossbred calves on a high plane of nutrition.

Plasticity of the digestive system is important for the development and productivity of cows. The objective of the study was to measure the plasticity of the gut in 10 each of Holstein Friesian (HF)-crossbred (Bos taurus; X) and indigenous (Bos indicus, e.g. Deoni breed; D) calves randomly distributed to recommended plane (RN) or 25% higher plane (HN) of nutrition. Body weight (BW) change during a 6-month period in indigenous calve irrespective of the plane of nutrition was 35 kg. Dry matter intake (DMI) in Deoni calves was reduced on a high plane of nutrition but not in HF-crossbred (X) calves. DMI in XHN was 7% more than that in XRN. Compared to crossbred, energy intake, metabolism and energy efficiency of indigenous calves were poor. Significantly higher plasma glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, AST, ALT and creatinine in DRN or DHN than in XRN or XHN indicated metabolic limitations in indigenous calves. Higher triglycerides and AST, ALT and AST/ALT ratio in indigenous calves may be due to poor insulin sensitivity and hyperlipidaemia. Higher triglycerides in serum may also one of the reasons for the reduced DMI in DHN. Serum creatinine (P < 0.05) in XHN or DHN was higher due to increased crude protein (CP) consumption. The study concluded poor plasticity of the digestive system in indigenous calves on a higher plane of nutrition compared to crossbred calves. Indigenous calves suffer metabolic disturbances like hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia and increased creatinine level because of digestive limitation and slower muscle growth.

Quality attributes of dahi prepared from milk fortified with omega-3 fatty acids, phytosterols and polydetxrose.

In the present study, dahi prepared using milk fortified with omega-3 fatty acids (flaxseed oil), phytosterols and soluble fibre (polydextrose) through an oil-in-water emulsion was evaluated for the physico-chemical and sensory quality. The levels of fortificants in fortified dahi were also estimated. Fortification process did not affect the degree of fermentation in terms of pH and acidity. Sensory scores of fortified and control dahi did not differ significantly. Fortified dahi had lower viscosity, firmness and consistency, and higher water holding capacity (WHC) compared to control; however, significant differences were not observed in firmness and consistency values. Storage study indicated that pH, acidity, %WHC, firmness and consistency values and lactic acid bacterial counts did not differ significantly throughout storage period in both the dahi samples and recorded good sensory acceptability during storage. Fortified dahi provides 282.53 mg, 415.92 mg and 1.019 g of α-linolenic acid, total phytosterols and polydextrose, respectively per 100 g of product. Moreover, no loss in the initial content of ALA, phytosterols and polydextrose had occurred after 8 days of storage period. The present study suggests the feasibility of adding flaxseed oil, phytosterols and polydextrose as functional ingredients in the form of water soluble emulsion to milk, which could be converted to dahi with acceptable properties and enhanced nutritional and therapeutic potency.

Effect of fortifying concentrate supplement with fibrolytic enzymes on nutrient utilization, milk yield and composition in lactating goats.

Thirty lactating Beetle-sannen crossbred goats were randomly divided into 3 groups based on first fortnight milk yield, and then adjusted to body weights to study the effect of fibrolytic enzyme supplementation on digestibility and milk production. Goats in the control group (C) were fed 500 g of concentrate supplement (CS) without exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (control; CG) or CS fortified with cellulase and xylanases @ of 4000 and 12500 (EG(1)) or 8000 and 18 750 IU/kg (EG(2)), respectively. CS was offered in two equal proportions just after milking at 7 and 17 h. After feeding CS, goats were fed 1200 g of wheat straw as roughage in two equal parts at 08.00 and 18.00 hours. Milk yield was studied for 3 1/2 months. Milking was done by hand. Changes in body weight were also recorded. After a preliminary period of 60 days of feeding, a 7-day digestibility trial was conducted in two intervals with 5 animals from each group at a time. The increase in either wheat straw or NDF intake due to the enzyme mixture was only 3%. There was significant improvement (P < 0.05) in the diet digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF and total carbohydrates (TC) between the control and EG(1) and EG(2) goats. Improvements were greater (P < 0.05) in the latter group. Microbial protein (MBP) was estimated based on purine derivatives and creatinine excreted in spot urine samples. MBP increased about 10 and 15% in EG(1) and EG(2), but these values were statistically invalid. Phenomenally milk yield, fat and SNF were significantly (P < 0.001) changed with progression of lactation. On a temporal basis, fortnightly changes in FCM yield of this study could be grouped as 1 month each of first and last and 1 1/2 of middle phase of lactation. Repeated measure analysis showed 180 to 260 mL/day of higher FCM and 16 to 20 g/day of higher SNF yield (P < 0.001) in EG(2) than control or even EG(1) during 5 to 7th fortnight. However, no significant impact (P > 0.05) was noticed on TF. Feed intake, g/kg FCM yield was also 7% less in EG(2) than either CG or EG(1). The study concluded that apart from increased digestibility, fortification of CS with cellulase and xylanases enzymes improved FCM yield in the last quarter of lactation in goats, and improved body weights by 5% (P > 0.05). While the digestibility of the diet was higher in EG(1) and EG(2), the impact on FCM and SNF yield was noticed only on EG(2). Our study indicated that CS of lactating goats may be fortified with 8000 and 18 500 IU/kg CS in the last quarter of lactation.