Efficacy of dietary supplementation of Tinospora cordifolia stem in prevention of sub-acute lactic acidosis in goats

Abstract

Present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of T. cordifolia for reducing the risk of lactic acidosis in goats. Jamnapari goats (10) were divided into two groups. Goats of treatment group were fed T. cordifolia stem powder @ 2% in concentrate feed for 14 days. Control animals were fed equal amount of concentrate without T. cordifolia powder. After 14 days, goats were fed overnight soaked wheat grain @ 50 g/kg body weight to induce lactic acidosis. Samples of rumen fluid at 0 and 12 h, and blood were collected on 0, 12 and 36 h of feeding of grain. Lactic acid concentration, total protozoa count and pH of rumen fluid were used as markers to assess the ameliorative potential of T. cordifolia stem. Mean lactic acid concentration, protozoa count and ammonia nitrogen of rumen fluid of T. cordifolia supplemented goats were 3.47±0.33 mg/dL, 1820.70±121.36 × 103/mL, and 2.71±0.09 mg/dL respectively on 12 h of induction of lactic acidosis. The concentrations of these parameters in control goats were 5.01±0.22 mg/dL, 1168.96±75.36 × 103/mL and 1.77±0.40 mg/dL respectively. These findings provided evidence that supplementation of T. cordifolia stem can prevent lactic acidosis in goats.