Effect of polyherbal galactogogue supplementation on milk yield and quality as well as general health of Surti buffaloes of south Gujarat

Abstract

Aim: A polyherbal galactogogue based on indigenous knowledge of tribles (Bhagats) belonging to Patalkot (Madhya Pradesh), Dangs (Gujarat) and Aravallis (Rajasthan) was evaluated on lactating Surti buffaloes (medium sized buffalo breed of South Gujarat which is best suitable for small and marginal farmers as well as landless labourers/tribal with less input resources). Materials and Methods:A total of 22 lactating Surti buffaloes maintained at Livestock Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Gujarat, India were randomly allotted to treatment and control group (11 buffaloes in each group). Two polyherbal galactogogue biscuits (19 g each) per day for initial 10 days of the month over a period of three months were supplemented to buffaloes in treatment group. The daily milk yield of all 22 buffaloes was recorded. Milk samples from all experimental buffaloes at fortnight interval were analyzed on automatic milk analyzer. The pooled gain/loss of BCS in all the buffaloes was worked out. DMI (%) were also worked out by averaging all fortnight observations. Results: A significant higher (p<0.05) total milk yield (14.24 %) of treatment group was recorded. The effect of polyherbal galactogogue biscuits was non-significant on milk compositions. Dry matter intake /100 kg body weight (DMI %) was found significantly (p<0.01) better in treatment over control. The buffaloes of treatment group had lost significantly (p<0.01) lesser body condition scoring (BCS) than control however, both groups had lost BCS from initial BCS. The net profit of treatment was Rs.339.90/animal/month higher than control and calculated cost-benefit ratio of treatment and control groups was 1:1.62 and 1:1.52 respectively. Conclusion:It was concluded that supplementary feeding of polyherbal galactogogue to lactating Surti buffaloes is cost effectively beneficial for milk yield and general health condition.

Effect of Herbal Galactogogue Supplementation on Production Performance of Lactating Kankrej Cows

“…No significant differences were observed in percentages of milk fat, SNF, protein, lactose and total solids among the different treatment groups. In agreement with our result, Tanwar et al, (2008), Baig and Bhagwat (2009) and Patel et al, (2013) who found that there was no significant effect on milk composition in dairy animals fed herbal supplementation.…”

“…Dadkhah and Yeganehzad (2011) also reported that supplementation of galactogogue herbal mixture in dairy cows had higher levels of hormone prolactin and insulin, which lead to increase milk production. Similar to present findings other workers (Patel et al, 2013;Sukanya et al, 2014;Galbat et al, 2014;Degirmencioglu et al, 2016) reported that dietary supplementation of herbal galactogogue in dairy animals significantly increased milk yield. No significant differences were observed in percentages of milk fat, SNF, protein, lactose and total solids among the different treatment groups.…”

“…The percentage daily return over control was 23.95 (T 2 ), 24.89 (T 3 ) and 19.25 (T 4 ) in herbal galactogogue supplemental groups. The total feed cost, net return over feed cost and percentage daily return over control are given in Tanwar et al, (2008), Patel et al, (2013), Kumar et al, (2014) and Sukanya et al, (2014) who reported herbal galactogogue supplementation reduced the cost per kg milk production and increased daily return in dairy animals.…”

“…Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) has been used as such for centuries as a purpose of galactogogue (Swafford and Berens, 2000). Positive effects of these galactogogue herbs on milk production in ruminants have been reported earlier by Patel et al, (2013), Balgees et al, (2013) and Degirmencioglu et al, (2016). The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of galactogogue mixture of Shatavari, Jivanti and Fenugreek on milk production and feeding economics of lactating Kankrej cows.…”

Effect of Herbal Galactogogue (Sanjivani biokseera) on Milk Yield and Milk Constituents in Lactating Kankrej Cattle at Organised Farm

“…No significant differences were observed in percentages of milk fat, SNF, protein, and lactose on day 52 of lactation among the different groups (Table 1). These results were in agreement with the results of earlier studies (Tanwar et al, 2008;Baig and Bhagwat, 2009;Patel et al, 2013), wherein there was no significant effect on milk composition in dairy animals fed herbal galactogogue. In the present study, though we did not calculate the actual economics, there was a persistent increase in milk production by nearly 1.5 liters per day in 60 g galactogogue supplemented group over control even after discontinuing the supplement, which is economically advantageous to the farmer.…”