Effect of feeding deoiled mahua ( B assia latifolia ) seed cake on the growth performance, digestibility and balance of nutrients in cross‐bred calves during pre‐patent period of Fasciola gigantica infection

Summary 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 .