Ameliorating the crossbred (Local x Holstein Friesian) growing calves’ growth performance, fecal microbial loads, and nutrient digestibility upon feeding local herbal feed additives as supplements

There is a growing interest to researchers in human and animal studies through the addition of medicinal plants or their derivatives to their feeds due to the presence of bioactive compounds. A study was carried out to monitor growth performance, fecal microbial loads and nutrient digestibility in crossbred (Local x Holstein Friesian) growing calves. Treatment groups were: HFA1 (CON: Control group, basal diet: green grass + concentrate), HFA2 (CON + fruit of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. 0.5% in-feed and 0.1% in-water), HFA3 (CON + fruit of Terminalia bellirica Gaertn. Roxb. 0.5% in-feed and 0.1% in-water), and HFA4 (CON + fruit of Terminalia chebula Retz. 0.5% in-feed and 0.1% in-water). Addition of local herbal feed additives (HFA2, HFA3 and HFA4) improved weight gain and gain to feed ratio (p<0.05). Fecal microbiological study indicated that, fecal pathogenic E. coli was suppressed, however, Lactobacilli sp. and their ratio was elevated in HFA2, HFA3 and HFA4 relative to HFA1 (p<0.05). Digestibility of DM was upgraded whereas digestibility of CP was down-trended in herbal treated group as compared to control group (p<0.05). Thus, utilization of local herbal feed additives in the diet (in-feed and in-water) of crossbred growing calves might be evocative for promoting the growth performance rather than utilizing synthetic growth promoters