Growth performance and nutrient utilisation in crossbred calves experimentally infected with F. gigantica and/or supplemented with deoiled mahua (Bassia latifolia) seed cake

A study was conducted to assess the growth performance and nutrient utilisation of crossbred calves trickle infected with Fasciola gigantica (F. gigantica) and/or supplemented with deoiled mahua (Bassia latifolia) seed cake (DMSC) during patent period of infection. Twenty healthy crossbred (HF X Haryana) male calves aged 6-7 months with an initial average live weight of 79.59±2.71 kg were divided into four treatment groups (CON, CON-INF, DMC and DMC-INF) of 5 animals each following randomized block design. DMSC was included in the concentrate mixture of DMC and DMC-INF groups at 100 g/kg. Animals of groups CON-INF and DMC-INF were given an infection of 200 metacercariae (mc) of F. gigantica as trickle infection dose of 50 mc twice weekly over a period of two weeks. A metabolism trial at 105-114 days post infection (DPI) and growth trial of 172 day duration were conducted. Calves under CON-INF exhibited significantly lower (P<0.05) body weight gain and average daily gain (ADG) accompanying poorer feed conversion efficiency (FCE) as compared to others, whereas the body weight gain and ADG were significantly (P<0.05) higher in DMC-INF group. The intake and digestibility of nutrients were not affected (P>0.05) by trickle infection with F. gigantica. However, higher urinary excretion of nitrogen and lower (P<0.01) nitrogen balance were observed in CON-INF group as compared to other three groups. The nitrogen balance was improved (P<0.01) in DMC-INF group. The urinary and faecal excretion of calcium (P<0.01) and urinary excretion of phosphorus (P<0.001) were higher in both the infected groups contributing to a lower balance of these minerals in the infected groups. Serum total protein and albumin concentration of CON-INF group were significantly (P<0.001) lower as compared to other groups, whereas it was improved in DMC-INF group. The A:G ratio in the infected groups showed a decreasing trend from 30 DPI. Serum glucose concentration remained unaffected due to infection/supplementation. The study concluded that the supplementation of deoiled mahua seed cake at 100 g/kg level in the concentrate mixture could improve the growth performance and nitrogen utilisation of F. gigantica trickle infected crossbred calves.