Effect of Herbal Feed Additives and Sulfate Supplementation on Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Cattle Calves

Background: Fibre is digested in the foregut of all ruminant animals by the microbes present. Digestibility of fibres of crop residues is low along with significant loss of feed energy as methane. Sulfate is reduced in the rumen by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and stimulates microbial growth with an increase in rumen microbial protein supply to the host animal. Essential oils (EOs) are among the most important plant-derived products, frequently responsible for the health-promoting qualities of various species. Both essential oils from fennel and clove exhibited pronounced and varying degree of growth inhibition against fungal and bacterial pathogens. Microbial digestion in the rumen can be improved by using these feed additives. Therefore, in the current study a combination of herbal feed additive and sulfate test in in vivo trial for their effect on nutrient utilization and performance of calves. Methods: Twenty four growing cattle calves (12 male Haryana, 8 male Sahiwal, 4 female Sahiwal calves) were distributed into four groups with six animals each in a randomized block design. Control (C) group was not supplemented with any extra things other than the present in the basal diet, T1 group was supplemented with herbal feed additive (Fennel + CLO; @ 1.0% of DMI), T2 group was supplemented with sulfate @ 0.075% of DMI and group T3 were supplemented with diet containing herbal feed additive (Fennel + CLO; @ 1.0% of DMI) and sulfate @ 0.075% of DMI. The basal diet offered to experimental groups contains 40% concentrate and 60% wheat straw. Body weight and dry matter intake were recorded fortnightly. Result: Overall body weight, DMI (kg/day), TDN intake (g/kg W0.75) and DCP intake (g/kg W) were found to be similar in the treatment as well as control group. Nutrient digestibility and digestible nutrient intake were not impacted by supplementation of either herbal feed additive and/or sulfate supplementation. ADGs were similar in all groups. FCR was not significantly different between the control and treatment groups. It may be concluded that supplementation of herbal feed additive (Fennel + CLO; @ 1.0% of DMI) may be used as an alternate electron acceptor and rumen modifier in high roughage-based ration as it does not have any harmful effect on growth and nutrient utilization on cattle calves.