Abstract
Author(s): MAH. Sarker*, MAS. Khan, MH. Rashid and MA. Islam
This work was done to appraise the anthelmintic properties of Azadirachta indica (locally known as Neem) and Annona reticulata (locally known as Ata) leaf and their effects on milk production and body weight of zebu cattle (Bos indicus). Twenty cows were selected based on the age (4 to 5 years) and the severity of gastrointestinal parasitic infection (>300 eggs per gram of faeces/cow). The animals were grouped into four, namely –Neem, Ata, Albendazole and control group. The basal diet was composed of rice straw, road side grass and rice polish. Powder of Neem and Ata leaf was supplemented @ 200 mg/kg live weight of the animal where the Albendazole group received Albendazole Tablet (600 mg/Tab, 7.5 mg/ Kg live weight). Data were collected weekly on egg per gram (EPG) of faeces, body weight (Kg) of cows and their daily milk yield (L). It was observed that with the progress of the experimental period, Neem leaf, Ata leaf and Albendazole had significant (p<0.01) effect in reducing EPG. The commercial Albendazole ended 100% reduction in the faecal egg count which was 6 and 15% more than that of the Neem leaf and Ata leaf, respectively. Similarly, within days, the effectiveness of the anthelmintics was Albendazole>Neem leaf >Aata leaf. The differences in average milk yields turned out to be significant (p<0.01) after 28 days. The body weight was found similar in all the groups (p>0.05).