Comparative assessment of different herbal galactogogue preparations on milk production and economics of lactating crossbred cows

Abstract

A study was made to evaluate the effect of feeding three different herbal galactogogue preparations namely Galactin Vet, Payapro and Gomilk on the milk yield and its composition from crossbred cows. Twenty lactating crossbred cows were taken for the experiment and were randomly divided into four groups of five cows each i.e. T0 (control group) without any galactogouge. T1 cows fed with Galactin Vet @4 boli/day orally, T2 cows with Payapro @ 4 boli/day orally while T3 cows fed with Gomilk @ 10 tab bid orally per day for a period of two months. Significant (P≤0.01) difference was observed in the milk yield of cows fed with herbal galactogouge preparations as compared to the control. Highest average milk yield of 7.76±0.16 litres per day (4% FCM) was observed in the case of Payapro supplemented cows followed by 7.54±0.23 litres/day and 7.01±0.15 litres/day in the case of cows supplemented with Galactin Vet and Gomilk respectively while in the case of control animals average milk yield was observed to be 5.95±0.19 litres/day. The percentage increase in milk yield was 19.64 in case of Payapro supplemented cows where as in the case Galactin and Gomilk supplemented cows the percentage increase in milk yield was 14.01 and 10.83 respectively. In T0, T1, T2 and T3 group cows the increase in fat percentage was observed to be 4.01+0.04%, 4.26+0.03%, 4.34+0.03% and 4.46+0.03% respectively during the trial period where as mean SNF percentage of T0, T1, T2 and T3 group of cows increased to 7.32+0.03, 7.46+0.04, 7.71+0.05 and 7.84+0.04 respectively. After supplementation of galactogouges, mean fat percentage increase of T1, T2 and T3 groups of cows increased by 3.40%, 5.60% and 9.31% respectively were as mean SNF increased by 3.32%, 3.49% and 2.75% respectively. Average net profit was estimated as Rs.70.35, Rs.87.90, Rs.97.45 and Rs.79.55 per cow per day respectively in T0, T1, T2 and T3 groups of cows where as cost-benefit ratio was calculated as 1: 1.52, 1: 1.55, 1: 1.61 and 1: 1.53 respectively.