Effect of Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera and Asparagus racemosus supplementation on rumen fermentation pattern and substrate degradation Namdeo Sonali, Kaur Navneet, Chakma Juli, Dutta Narayan*, Jadhav S.E. Division of Animal Nutrition, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243122, India *Corresponding author: dutta65@gmail.com
Online published on 2 January, 2025. Abstract This study scrutinized the effect of herbal feed additives viz. Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), and Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) supplementation on in vitro gas production, rumen fermentation and substrate degradation in cattle inoculum. The in vitro fermentation study was conducted with the roughage-based substrate at four different levels of herbs supplementation at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 % of total dry matter and incubated up to 24h and substrate degradation was estimated. The inclusion of T. cordifolia, W. somnifera and A. racemosus significantly (P<0.01) increased gas production (ml/200 mg substrate) relative to the control. Truly degradable organic matter in the rumen (TDOMR) was found to be significantly (P<0.01) higher in all three herbs-supplemented groups at all levels as compared to CON. However, TDOMR was highest at 1% in T. cordifolia, 2 and 3% in W. somnifera and 3% A. racemosus level. Similarly, microbial biomass production and partitioning factor were also noticeably (P<0.01) higher in all the herbs-supplemented groups than control. The supplementation of herbs did not have any effect (P>0.05) on pH and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production. The NH3-N was significantly (P<0.05) decreased in all the treatment groups as compared to control. It may be concluded that the inclusion of select herbs at 1% levels significantly improved gas production, TDOMR and efficiency of MBP; however, the level of ammonia-N was reduced. Top Keywords Asparagus racemosus, Gas production, Rumen fermentation, Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera. Top |