Browsing by Author "Ally, K"

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Effect of replacing dried fish with lysine and methionine in the calf starter on the growth performance of crossbred calves
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2004) Jith John Mathew; Ally, K
A growth trial was conducted with fourteen crossbred calves below one month of age for 145 days to study the effect of replacement of unsalted dried fish in the calf starter with a total vegetable protein source supplemented with lysine and methionine. Calves were divided into two groups as uniformly as possible and allotted randomly to two dietary treatments. The control group was fed with a calf starter containing unsalted dried fish. The treatment group was fed a calf starter with only vegetable protein sources formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric with control calf starter and equated by supplementation, with the same as regard to amino acids lysine and methionine plus cystine. Statistical analysis of the data showed that there was no significant difference in any of the parameters recorded during the study. An average daily gain of 325 grams and 348 grams were obtained in calves fed with the control and treatment diets respectively. Feed to gain ratio for the control and treatment groups were 3.85 and 3.81 respectively. Dry matter intake and haematological parameters such as haemoglobin, serum phosphorus, serum calcium, plasma glucose, serum total protein and blood urea nitrogen were similar in calves receiving the two dietary treatments. The digestibility coefficients of nutrients observed were 66.37 and 65.84 for dry matter, 72.21 and 72.36 for crude protein, 64.28 and 61.85 for ether extract, 62.34 and 60.71 for neutral detergent fibre and 51.95 and 52.25 for acid detergent fibre for the control and treatment diets respectively. Identical performance was obtained in all the parameters recorded. Cost per kilogram body weight gain was Rs 71.40 for the control group and Rs 69.63 in the treatment group. It could be inferred from the study that unsalted fish in a calf starter can be fully replaced by plant protein sources supplemented for existing deficiencies in lysine and methionine plus cystine to obtain similar growth performance of cross bred pre-ruminant calves.
Effect of tannins in commonly fed fodders on nutrient availability in goats
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1994) Ally, K; Kunjikutty, N
The effect of nature and level of tannins in tree leaves on nutrient utilisation in animals was investigated using six adult non producing Saanen x Malabari female goats. Four commonly fed tree leaves viz., subabul, jack, venga and banana leaves selected on the basis of their tannin contents as well as palatability and local availability were used for the feeding experiments. The experimental animals were maintained on the respective fodders as the sole feed, each for a period of about one month under identical managemental conditions. A digestion cum metabolism trial was carried out at the end of each feeding experiment. The data on body weight, average dry matter intake, digestibility coefficients of nutrients, balance of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus and haematological values gathered during the experimental period were taken as the criteria for evaluating the effect of tannins on nutrient availability in goats. The total tannin content in the different tree leaves studied ranged from 2.6 to 7.8 per cent, with condensed tannins predominating in majority of the fodders. The average dry matter consumption (g/ kg metabolic live weight) of goats when fed jack and subabul leaves with 4.0 percent and 5.5 percent total tannins respectively on dry matter basis were higher than when fed venga and banana leaves with 4.7 and 3.7 percent respectively of the same. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract and nitrogen free extract in banana leaves with the lowest level of total and condensed tannins (3.7 percent and 1.6 percent respectively) were higher than in jack, subabul and venga leaves, the differences between the various leaves in this regard being not statistically significant, excepting for nitrogen free extract. Though all the experimental animals maintained positive balances for nitrogen, the average nitrogen balance (g per day) was higher in goats fed jack leaves when compared to those given subabul, venga and banana leaves as the sole feed. The animals fed all the four fodders maintained positive balances for calcium, the balance in goats fed subabul being significantly higher than those given the other fodders. Though a negative phosphorus balance was recorded in goats fed subabul and venga leaves, the animals on jack and banana leaves as the sole fodder maintained positive balances for phosphorus. The haematological constituents Viz., haemoglobin, plasma protein, calcium and phosphorus in goats fed the four fodders were all well within the normal ranges for the species. A critical assessment of the overall results obtained during the course of the present study indicates that even a level of upto 5.5 percent of total tannins and 3.4 percent of condensed tannins in tree leaves does not appear to exert any deleterious effect on feed consumption and nutrient utilisation in goats.
Effect of urea as source of rumen degradable preotein on milk production of crossbred cows in early lactation
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 2005) Sheena Joseph; Ally, K
A study was conducted with crossbred cows to assess the effect of urea as a source of rumen degradable protein on the milk production in early lactation. Eight crossbred cows within 20 days of lactation were selected as uniformly as possible with regard to their age, parity, weight and milk yield. They were allotted to the four dietary treatments in a switch over design. The four concentrate mixtures contained 16.93, 17.37, 19.92 and 19.92 per cent crude protein (CP) and 70.60, 69.24, 70.26 and 68.98 per cent TDN, respectively. The levels of rumen undegradable protein (UDP) and rumen degradable protein (RDP) in the four concentrate mixtures were 28, 39.15, 26.46 and 40 per cent of CP as UDP and 72, 61.85, 73.54 and 60 per cent of CP as RDP, respectively, on DM basis. There was no significant effect (P>0.05) of dietary CP or UDP levels on the body weight, dry matter intake and milk production of animals. The inclusion of urea at different CP or UDP levels did not show any marked influence on the production performance of the animals. There was no significant difference in any of milk composition parameters except MUN which was significantly higher (P<0.05) with 20 per cent concentrate mixtures compared to17 per cent concentrate mixtures at both levels of degradability. The haematological and biochemical parameters such as haemoglobin, plasma glucose, plasma urea nitrogen, plasma creatinine, plasma calcium, plasma phosphorus, plasma total protein and albumin estimated at the end of each feeding period were not significantly affected (P>0.05) by the four dietary treatments. There was no significant effect (P>0.05) of four dietary combinations on rumen fermentation parameters such as rumen pH, total volatile fatty acids and (TVFA) and rumen ammonia nitrogen (NH3–N) concentration. The cost of production per kg milk produced was Rs.7.25, 8.10, 8.05 and 9.09, respectively, for the four dietary treatments. From the overall results obtained in the present study, it could be concluded that a 17 per cent CP concentrate mixture with 28 per cent UDP was sufficient for meeting the protein requirement of early lactating crossbred cows producing about 10 kg milk per day. The study also revealed that one per cent urea can be added in the concentrate mixture of early lactating cows as a source of RDP without any deleterious effect.
Influence of level and degradability of dietry protein on early lactation in crossbred cows
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 2003) Ally, K; Mercy, A D