A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of condensed tannins and saponins from deoiled mahua seed cake (DMSC) on the development of fasciolosis. Fifteen male buffaloes were randomly divided into three groups of five each and were orally infected with Fasciola gigantica metacercaria at 800 per animal. DMSC was included in the concentrate mixture of group 2 (M5) and group 3 animals (M10) at 5 and 10%, respectively and group 1 remained as the non-supplemented control (C) group. Hypo-albuminemia, hyper-globulinemia and decrease in Albumin:Globulin (A:G) ratio were the significant features in C and M5 group. The group M10 was characterised by higher haemoglobin and packed cell volume and lower plasma total protein concentration, antibody response and faecal egg count than C and M5 group. This combined with higher plasma albumin, creatinine and lower globulin concentration in group 3 animals were conclusive of lower intensity infection as compared to other groups. It is concluded that condensed tannin and saponins of DMSC (10% of DMSC in concentrate mixture) possess remarkable anti-fasciolic activity.

A study was conducted to assess the growth performance and nutrient utilization of cross-bred calves serially infected with Fasciola gigantica and/or supplemented with deoiled mahua seed cake (DMSC) during pre-patent period of infection. Twenty healthy cross-bred (Holstein Friesian × Haryana) male calves aged 6-7 months with an initial average live weight of 79.6 ± 2.71 kg were divided into four treatment groups (CON, CON-INF, DMC and DMC-INF) of five animals each following randomized block design. DMSC was included in the concentrate mixture of DMC and DMC-INF groups at 100 g/kg level. Animals of groups CON-INF and DMC-INF were given an infection of 200 metacercariae (mc) of F. gigantica as serial infection dose of 50 mc twice weekly over a period of 2 weeks. A metabolism trial at 40-49 days post-infection and growth trial of 145 days duration were conducted. The average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in CON-INF group as compared to others. The ADG and FCR were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in DMC-INF as compared to CON-INF. The intake and digestibility of nutrients were not affected by serial infection with F. gigantica during pre-patent period. However, significantly (p < 0.001) higher urinary excretion and significantly (p < 0.001) lower nitrogen balance were observed in CON-INF group as compared to other three groups. The nitrogen balance was significantly (p < 0.001) improved in DMC-INF group as compared to CON-INF group. From the results, it may be deduced that the supplementation of deoiled mahua seed cake at 100 g/kg level in the concentrate mixture has improved the growth performance and nitrogen utilization in cross-bred calves infected with F. gigantica.

Purpose: The work evaluated the nutritive value of dried rumen digesta (DRD) from cattle (CRD), sheep (SRD) and goat (GRD) in Bolgatanga Abattoir, Ghana.Methodology: Rumen digesta (RD) was collected from twenty-seven (27)) animals, nine each from cattle, sheep and goat at the Bolgatanga Municipal Abattoir and sundried for 4 days. Proximate analysis, cell wall component and metabolizable energy were estimated after which the data was subjected to analysis of variance for statistical difference at 0.05% level.Findings: Result obtained showed significant differences (P< 0.05) in proximate compositions. Goat Rumen Digesta (GRD) had highest organic matter (90.81%), Crude protein (12.17%) and metabolizable energy (ME) (374.24 Kca/100g) compared to the other experimental digesta from cattle. The Neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and cellulose were not significantly different across the rumen digesta obtained from the species of animals.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The values for organic matter and crude compositions obtained from the Sun-dried rumen digesta from cattle, sheep and goat indicated the ability of rumen digesta to provide the nutrients particularly protein required by animals for normal physiological activities. Farmers can process the digesta and include it in livestock feeds.