Therapeutic evaluation of polyherbal mixture on bloat in goats

Introduction

Bloat has been recognized as one of the major diseases that cause large economic loss in production field of domestic animals. In ruminants, anorexia, tympany, indigestion, are commonly encountered signs & are characterized by poor appetite, change in pH towards either sides, decreased ruminal motility & reduced protozoal counts (Gosselink et al., 2004). Hence, an effective digestive system is vital to an animal not only for its physical outlook but also to produce milk & meat. Bloat is characterized by a distended abdomen and sometimes becomes apparent when the animal tries to empty its stomach. Ruminant animal produces large volume of gas during the process of digestion. This gas is either belched up or passes through the gastrointestinal tract. Bloat occurs when something interferes with gas escape from the rumen resulting in distension of the rumen. The ruminant suffering from bloat has symptoms of abnormal hypertrophy of rumen capacity, decline in feeding activity, decline in rumination behavior, dyspnoea (Radostits, et al., 2007) [17] . In acute cases animal dies as the continued accumulation of gas increases the pressure within the rumen, eventually causing death by asphyxiation as the rumen exerts pressure on the diaphragm and lungs (Chakrabarti, 2012) [3] . Therefore, it becomes essential to correct the ruminal environment. Treatment of such ruminants by conventional drugs is expensive whereas by using herbal drugs, which are cheap, safe without any side effects. Herbal medicinal products represent a fast growth area of health-care products for companion animals (FAO, 1984). Therefore, a safe, locally available, economical and easy to administer without any toxic effect antifoaming medicament need to be developed (Williamsom, 2002) [25] . This then can be employed in the livestock production system. The present invention provides a herbal formulation comprising a therapeutically effective combination of plants Zingiber officinale, Gardenia gummifera, Trachyspermum ammi, Ferrula asafoetida, Peucadenum graveolens & Embella ribes useful in treatment of bloat. [23] .

Objective & aim of study

Rumen Fluid Evaluation

Physical, Chemical and microscopic examination of rumen fluid was carried out at zero hrs and eight hrs.

Physical examination of rumen

Chemical examination of rumen fluid

As per Rosenberger (1979). 1 Cellulose Digestion Test: 2 Methylene Blue Reduction Test: (photo 13).

Microscopic examination of ruminal fluid as per

Shankar Narayan and Nambiar (1972) [20] .

Clinical parameters

In vivo studies following parameters were studied.

Statistical Analysis

The collected data was statistically analyzed as per the methods of Snedecor and Cochran (1994) [23] .

Results

In vivo study in T 1 (Gardenia gummifera) group revealed that there is no significant difference observed in color, consistency, odour whereas moderate changes were observed in CDT, protozoal density, ruminal motility and type of respiration. In T 2 (Zingiber officinale) groups similar changes were observed as inT 1 . In T 3 (4g herbal mixture) group only protozoal density were found significant. In T 4 (6 g herbal mixture) group protozoal density, protozoal motility and ruminal motility increased at 8 th hour which showed that the T 4 group treatment was much more effective as compared to other groups.

The average and S.E. were estimated and Two way analysis of variance was carried out for Hydrogen Ion Concentration Sedimentation Activity Time is considered as simple diagnostic test to detect abnormal changes in ruminal ingesta. When comparison was made between 0 th and 8 th hour it was observed that SAT values decreased post treatment in T 2 (7.67±0.17 to 7.47±2.44), T 3 (8.1±0.11 to 7.82±0.12) and T 4 (7.67±0.09 to 7.27±0.09) whereas SAT increased in T 1 (8.88±0.32 to 8.91±0.34). It was observed that there was a positive and significant effect of treatment on SAT at one per cent level. However, non-significant difference was observed with respect to hour effect. Since, non-significant difference was observed for average values of 0 th and 8 th hour indicated that because of treatment. It is observed from above results that SAT value average has marginally reduced in T 2 , T 3 and T 4 . T 4 gave better results followed by T 2 , T 3 and T 1 respectively. Similarly, significant increase (p< 0.05) in SAT was recorded by Randhwa et al (1989) [24] at 6 th hour and no sedimentation activity was noted at 12 th hour and 24 th hour. Same findings were recorded by Basak et al (1993) [2] in SAT with significant increase (p<0.01) at 12 th hour and absence of SAT from 24 th hour might be due to destruction of microflora. Positive and significant effect of treatment on SAT at (p<0.05) was in accordance with Darwin et al., (2007) [6] , Pradhan, (1995) [16] & Randhwa, et. al, (1989) [24] . The herbal treatment showed a significant reduction in SAT value. This might be due to an improved vitality of surviving microflora. 2009) [21] & Dirksen, (1983) [7] . Basak, et. al., 1993 [2] also reported the physicochemical and microbiological changes in rumen liquor of experimentally induced lactic acidosis in goats. Lysis or death of rumen protozoa due to fall in rumen pH from 12-84 hr of induction of rumen acidosis. In present investigations, the time interval was probably falling short to hypothesize on role of ruminal protozoa in the causation of bloat. Rumen protozoa are highly sensitive for the alteration in minor changes in the internal environment of rumen which includes pH as one of the factor. PH is the most sensitive indicator and protozoa may die with sudden drop in pH below 5. Therefore, iodophilic activity of protozoa was evaluated at 0 th and 8 th hour wherein, it was revealed that the differences between hour and treatment are significantly different. The average live% of rumen protozoa was found increased in T 4 (53.17±0.40 to 61±0.85) treatment group as compared to T 3 (53.83±0.60 to 57.5±0.76), T 2 (54.33±0.76 to 56.5±0.71) & T 1 (52.33±1.47 to 53.17±1.87). When averages were estimated in all 24 goats on 0 th hour and 8 th hour irrespective of treatment groups, it was observed that there was a significant increase in live% of rumen protozoa (Pradhan, 1995 & Phalphate, 1994) [16] . Rumen protozoa helps to maintain rumen buffer system by resisting lowering of pH in starchy diet as they engulf and temporarily store the starch particles in food vacuoles. Basak et al (1992) [2] reported iodophilic nature of rumen protozoa were absent from 12-84 hr of induction of rumen acidosis. They attributed lysis or death of rumen protozoa due to fall in rumen pH. It appears that, present investigations the time interval was probably falling short to hypothesize on role of ruminal protozoa in the causation of bloat. Total Protozoal Count is subject to the change due to various factors like sudden change in pH either due to abrupt change in diet, non-digestible feed and feed producing acidity or alkalinity. Significant difference at 1% level was recorded for treatment effect as well as hour effect. It was observed that treatment T 2 (5.37±0.08 to 5.92±0.04), T 3 (5.38±0.06 to 6.12±0.07) and T 4 (5.45±0.08 to 6.53±0.21) significantly improved total protozoal count post treatment at 8 th hr. The lower estimates of total protozoal count in group T 2 , T 3 , and T 4 observed in the present study might be due to lysis or death of rumen protozoa due to fall in rumen pH. It was observed that treatment T 2 , T 3 and T 4 significantly improved total protozoal count post treatment at 8 th hr. However the highest improvement was registered in T 4 which was 6g herbal mixture (FAO 1984). The marked improvement in total protozoal count in the present study sustained release of antifoaming agent that might be present in the herbs. However, the highest improvement was registered in T 4 which was 6g herbal mixture, clearly suggesting that herbs when mixed together have synergistic effect. The marked improvement in total protozoal count in the present study sustained release of antifoaming agent that might be present in the herbs. These findings were in accordance with Williamsom, (2002) [25] , Mitra, (2007) [11] & Pradhan (1995) [16] who reported rapid drop in mean total protozoal count in group 1 and group 2 which became nil at 24 th and 48 th hour of induction of acidosis. Pant and Roy (1970) [14] demonstrated an inverse relationship in total protozoal count and pH of ruminal fluid. The osmolality associated with acidosis in the present study are in agreement with that of Rasal (2001) who also recorded alterations in pH and number of ruminal protozoa In all treatment groups the temperature found reduced due to treatment. The treatment effect was found non-significant. Whereas, the hour effect was found significant (p<0.01). In all treatment groups the temperature found reduced due to treatment which was in accordance with Sen et al (1982) [19] & Rasal (2001) The abdominal girth is one of the important parameters of present study. Hence, abdominal girth was recorded two times during the study. The average 0 th and 8 th hour readings of all treatment groups were calculated and presented in Table 8 and Fig 8 . The statistical analysis was carried out for finding out significant difference between treatment and hour groups. The treatment effect was found non-significant while hour effect was found significant at 1% level. On the onset of the experiment, the 0 th hour reading of abdominal girth was significantly higher in all the treatment groups compared to 8 th hour reading. This clearly showed that abdominal girth has reduced significantly due to different types of treatment in different groups. The abdominal girth at initiation of treatment was found to be increased because of production of excessive gas in the rumen which reduced after the herbal treatment. This indicated that all the treatment have positive effect on health of the goats FAO (1984). In the present study the abdomen girth was reduced significantly as a result of which respiratory rate was also reduced. The results are in accordance with Rasal (200, Chand et al (2001) [4] and FAO (1984).

Hydrogen ion concentration (ph)

SAT (sedimentation activity time)

MBRT (Methylene Blue reduction Time)

Live% of protozoa

Total protozoal count

Temperature

Abdominal Girth

Conclusion

From the present study it can be concluded that the herbal mixture of 6g comprising one gram each of Zingiber officinale, Gardenia gummifera, Trachyspermum ammi, Ferrula asafoetida, Peucadenum graveolens and Embella ribes found to be more effective in treatment of bloat in goat clearly suggesting that herbs when mixed together have synergistic effect.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementThe authors are highly thankful to Dean, Nagpur Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur for providing necessary facilities to carry out the investigation.

References

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