Studies on Effect of Milkgrit on milk parameters in Red Kandhari Cows and Murrah buffaloes

Dr. A. M. Chapalwar, Dr. V. B. Kale

College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, MAFSU, Parbhani

Introduction

          India has witnessed rapid development in milk production during last two decades and has emerged as the world’s top dairy nation, but it is still not sufficient to meet-out the requirement of increasing population. The low milk production of dairy animals due to various factors like under feeding, malnutrition, various diseases, stress, seasons etc. which hamper the economy of dairy industry.

          India ranks first position in milk production in the world. Total annual milk production during 2023-24 was 236.35 million tones with daily per capita availability of 459 g (Anonymous, 2023) . The use of herbal feed additives in livestock production, is as old as the ancient history. Now a days, herbs are widely used as animal feed additives to enhance milk production of dairy cows. The herbal preparations claim to be helpful to control stresses of different origin, improve nutrient utilization & availability and consequently enhance milk yield, Some of the herbs for increasing milk production of cows are satomul / Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), jiwanti (Leptadenia reticulata), bhringaraj (Eclipta prostrata), papaya (Carica papaya), methi (Trigonella adscendens) etc.

          The present study were conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding of product Milk grit (AS Nutrisol, Bulandshahr, UP)  on milk production in dairy animals.

Materials and Methods     

          The present research was conducted in College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, MAFSU, Parbhani and was carried out  in both the animals species cattle and buffaloes.  40 lactating animals (20 Murrah buffaloes and 20 Red Kandhari cows) were selected from nearby villages in Parbhani district, Maharashtra state. The selection criteria was 1 to 4 months after parturition.

          The average body weight and average milk production were recorded for 7-8 days before the start of the trial.  The  Milkgrit powder was fed to the experimental animals  by daily mixing the product in cattle feed at the dose rate of 1 Kg per ton of feed for a period of 30 days of the experiment. The milk yield from individual animal was recorded.

          20 buffaloes were divided in to two groups and 20 Red Kandhari cows were also divided in two groups each containing 10 animals and served as Control group (10 animals) and Treatment group (10 animals).

          Daily milk production was checked in both the group animals (control and treatment group) in morning and evening.

          Milk samples were collected on day 0, 10th, 20th and 30th of the experiment and were analysed for total milk quantity (pooled for morning and evening) in kg, Fat percentage , Solid Not Fat (SNF) level using milk analyser, lactoscan.

Results :

          The present experiment was conducted in 20 Red Kandhari cows and 20 Murrah buffaloes for a period of 30 days.

          The product Milkgrit from AS Nutrisol, Buland Shahar, UP was used as a treatment tool and fed at the dose rate of 1 Kg per ton of feed. Feeding was carried out during the complete experimental period of 30 days.

          The results obtained in the present experiment were analysed and presented in the present chapter.  

Effect of Milkgrit on milk production :

          Table 1 and 2 represents the effect of Milkgrit on milk production in Redkandhari cattle and Murrah buffaloes on day ‘0’ and day 10th, 20th and 30th of treatment period.

          Table 1 summarises the milk production in Red Kandhari cows. On day ‘0’ the mean milk yield in RK cows in control group animals was 3.73 ± 0.21 kg.

            Though slight alterations were observed in milk yield in this group animals on day 10th, 20th and 30th of the experiment. The alterations were observed to be statistically non significant.

            In treatment group animals treated with the feed containing Milkgrit at the inclusion level of 1 Kg per ton of feed showed the average milk yield of  3.55 ± 0.20 kg on day ‘0’ which then increased to  3.74 ± 0.21,  4.14 ± 0.22 and further to 4.24 ± 0.22 kg on day 10th, 20th and 30th respectively.

          The elevation in the milk yield was observe to be significantly higher on day 10th, 20th and 30th when compared with the day ‘0’ value of the treatment group.

          Milk yield in Red Kandhari cow control group was observed to be reduced by 1.34 per cent on day 10th, 0.80 per cent on day 20th and by 0.27 per cent on day 30th.  

            As against the control group animals, milk production in treatment group was observed to be Increased on day 10th, 20th and 30th of the experiment and the yield was observed to be 3.74 ± 0.21 kg (an increase by 5.25 per cent), 4.14 ± 0.22 kg  (an increase by 16.62 per cent) and 4.24 ± 0.22 kg   (an increase by 19.44 per cent)  respectively.

            Increased milk yield in treatment group animals was observed to be statistically significant when compared with its day ‘0’ value and the production in control group animals on respective days of the experiment.        

          Table 1 : Milk production  (kg) in Red Kandhari cows on different days of the experiment

a,b,c show significant difference within the column (between different groups of specific days) (p<0.05) and m,o,n represents the show significant difference within the rows, (p<0.05).

          Table 2 summarises the milk production in Murrah buffaloes. On day ‘0’ the mean milk yield in Murrah buffaloes in control group animals was 5.49 ± 0.24 kg.

            Though slight alterations were observed in milk yield in this group animals on day 10th, 20th and 30th of the experiment. The alterations were observed to be statistically non significant.

            In treatment group animals treated with the feed containing Milkgrit at the inclusion level of 1 Kg per ton of feed showed the average milk yield of  5.55 ± 0.24 kg on day ‘0’ which increased to  5.78 ± 0.23 kg indicating an increase by 4.14 % as against reduction by 0.18 % in control group animals on day 10th,  6.10 ± 0.22 kg indicating an increase by 9.99 % as against reduction by 0.91 % in control group animals on day 20th and further to 6.28 ± 0.23 kg indicating an increase by 13.15 % as against reduction by 0.55 % in control group animals on day on day 30th respectively.                     An increase in the milk yield in the treatment group is clear indicative of galactagogue effect of the product Milkgrit.

          As the Milkgrit contains Asparagus racemosus and Leptadenia reticulata. An increase in the production may be due the galactagogue effect of these herbs.

          Similar findings were also reported by Tanvar et. al. (2008) , Khera et. al. (2022).

Table 2 : Milk production (kg) in Murrah buffaloes on different days of the experiment

          a,b,c show significant difference within the column (between different groups of specific days) (p<0.05) and m,o,n represents the show significant difference within the rows, (p<0.05)

Effect of Milkgrit on milk Fat level :

          Table 3 and 4 represents the effect of Milkgrit on fat percentage in Redkandhari cattle and Murrah buffaloes on day ‘0’ and day 10th, 20th and 30th of treatment period.

          Table 3 summarises the fat percentage in Red Kandhari cows. On day ‘0’ the mean fat percentage in RK cows in control group animals was 4.21 ± 0.18 per cent.

            Though slight alterations were observed in fat percentage in this group animals on day 10th, 20th and 30th of the experiment as reduction in fat percent by 0.24 on day 20th and 30th of the experiment, the alterations were observed to be statistically non significant.

            In treatment group animals treated with the feed containing Milkgrit at the inclusion level of 1 Kg per ton of feed showed the average fat percentage of  4.21 ± 0.17 per cent on day ‘0’ which increased to  4.23 ± 0.18 (an increase by 0.47 %) and further to 4.26 ± 0.19 (an increase by 1.19 %) per cent on day 20th and 30th respectively.

          The elevation in the fat percentage was observe on day 20th of the experiment but the value was observed to be statistically non significant. Significantly higher fat percentage was observed on day 30th of the experiment when compared with the day ‘0’ value of the treatment group.

          The Fat percentage in treatment group was also observed to be significantly higher on day 30th when compared with the day 30th value in  control group animals.

Table 3 : Fat percentage in Red Kandhari cows milk on different days of the experiment

a,b,c show significant difference within the column (between different groups of specific days) (p<0.05) and m,o,n represents the show significant difference within the rows, (p<0.05)

          Table 4 summarises the fat percentage in Murrah buffaloes. On day ‘0’ the mean fat percentage in Murrah buffalo milk in control group animals was 6.11 ± 0.21 per cent.

            Though slight alterations were observed in fat percentage in this group animals on day 10th, 20th and 30th of the experiment where slight increase in fat percentage by 0.16 per cent was observed on day 20th which further declined to be at par with the day ‘0’ value.  The alterations were observed to be statistically non significant.

            In treatment group animals treated with the feed containing Milkgrit at the inclusion level of 1 Kg per ton of feed showed the average fat percentage of  6.11 ± 0.19 per cent on day ‘0’ which increased to  6.19 ± 0.20 (an increase by 1.31 %) on day 10th , 6.38 ± 0.20 (an increase by 4.42 %) on day 20th and further to 6.43 ± 0.20 (an increase by 5.24 %) on day 30th respectively.

          Significantly higher fat percentage was observed on day 10th, 20th and 30th of the experiment when compared with the day ‘0’ value of the treatment group.

          The Fat per centage in treatment group was also observed to be significantly higher on day 10th, 20t and 30th when compared with their respective day values in  control group animals.

Table 4 : Fat percentage in buffalo milk on different days of the experiment

a,b,c show significant difference within the column (between different groups of specific days) (p<0.05) and m,o,n represents the show significant difference within the rows, (p<0.05)

Effect of Milkgrit on milk Solid Not Fat (SNF) level :

          Table 5 and 6 represents the effect of Milkgrit on SNF level in Redkandhari cattle and Murrah buffaloes on day ‘0’ and day 10th, 20th and 30th of treatment period.

          The SNF level in control as well as treatment group animals on day ‘0’ was observed to be 8.40 ± 0.14 and  8.41 ± 0.14 respectively.

            No statistically significant alterations were observed in SNF level in control group animals on day 10th, 20th and 30th of the experiment and the value were observed to be 8.41 ± 0.14, 8.40 ± 0.14 and 8.40 ± 0.14 respectively.

            However no statistically significant alteration in SNF level even in treatment groups on day 10th, 20th and 30th of the experiment were observed and the values observed were 8.41 ± 0.14, 8.40 ± 0.14 and 8.40 ± 0.14 respectively.

Table 5 : SNF percentage in Red Kandhari cows milk on different days of the experiment

a,b,c show significant difference within the column (between different groups of specific days) (p<0.05) and m,o,n represents the show significant difference within the rows, (p<0.05)

          Table 6 represents the effect of Milkgrit on SNF level in Murray buffaloes on day ‘0’ and day 10th, 20th and 30th of treatment period.

          The SNF level in control as well as treatment group animals on day ‘0’ was observed to be 9.00 ± 0.16 and 9.00 ± 0.15 respectively.

            No statistically significant alterations were observed in SNF level in control group animals on day 10th, 20th and 30th of the experiment and the value were observed to be 9.01 ± 0.15, 9.10 ± 0.15 and 9.01 ± 0.14 respectively indicating an increase by 0.11 per cent.

            However statistically significant increase in SNF level on day 10th, 20th and 30th in treatment group animals was observed against their respective day ‘0’ value. The SNF values observed were 9.20 ± 0.16 (an increase by 2.22 %), 9.20 ± 0.16  (an increase by 2.22 %) and 9.22 ± 0.16  (an increase by 2.44 %) respectively.

            The SNF values in treatment group animals were observed to be statistically significant on day 10th, 20th and 30th against the values observed in control group on respective days.         

Table 6 : SNF percentage in buffalo milk on different days of the experiment

a,b,c show significant difference within the column (between different groups of specific days) (p<0.05) and m,o,n represents the show significant difference within the rows, (p<0.05)

Conclusions :

          From the present experiment it can be concluded that the product Milkgrit is observed to be effective in improving milk yield, fat percentage and SNF level in Red Kandhari cattle and Murrah buffaloes.

References :

          Parteek Kr. Khera, J Hussain, JP Bordoloi, J Saharia, AK Gohain, T Borpuzari, L Borah and Sudhanya Nath (2022) Effect of dietary supplementation of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) on the production performance of crossbred cows The Pharma Innovation Journal, SP-11(11): 491-495.

          P.S. Tanwar, S.S. Rathore and Yogendra Kumar (2008), Effet of Shatawari (Asparagus racemosus) on milk production in dairy animals. Indian J. Anim. Res., 42 (3) : 232-233.