Effect of feeding Embilica officinalis (Amla) on milk quality in cattle affected with subclinical mastitis

Abstract

Embilica officinalis or Indian gooseberry is perhaps the single most often mentioned herb in "Charak Samhita", the Ayurvedic medicine literature (500 BC). Ayurveda, which is the oldest health system in the world, appreciates and uses amla to treat a host of diseases and promote positive health. Thirty two animals positive for subclinical mastitis were randomly divided into four different groups containing 8 animals each and supplemented with various doses of deseeded fresh amla. Changes in milk yield, fat%, solids not fat, total solids and total bacterial count were studied. Supplementation of amla @ 250 gram and 200 gram increased the milk yield by 14.58% and 14.28%, significantly decreased total bacterial count but did not have any significant changes in fat%, total solids and solid not fat, although an increase in fat was recorded. Supplementation at 150 gram too increased milk yield, decreased total bacterial count but the changes were statistically non significant. In unsupplemented group, an increase in somatic cell count, total bacterial count and decline in milk yield was recorded indicative of development of mastitis. Thus, amla can be used as an alternate to conventional therapy and can be supplemented to cattle in routine feeding especially in areas where it is surplus.