Dietary effect of combination of nitrate, sulphate and saponin on growth rate and methane mitigation on crossbred calves

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary Nitrate, Sulphate and Saponin supplementation on enteric methane emission and growth performance in crossbred calves. Twenty four (24) crossbred calves divided in four groups (8-10 months of age) were selected from the Livestock Research Complex of ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. Control, T1, T2 and T3. Control group was fed without any supplementation, T1 group was fed with Nitrate and Sulphate, T2 group with Nitrate and Saponin and T3 group with Nitrate, Sulphate and Saponin, each was supplemented @1.5% of dietary concentrate mixture. The roughage to concentrate ratio was 65:35. Total feeding trial was conducted for four months. . Enteric CH4 emissions were measured for a total of 5 days, using the SF6 tracer gas technique. Non- significant (p>0.05) effect was observed on fortnightly body weight, feed intake, ADG, FCR, digestibility of nutrients and hematological parameters however There was significant (p