Vol. 11, Special Issue 6 (2022)

Author(s):
Prasad Bhamare, David Thakur and Bhaskar Ganguly

Abstract:
Heat stress is one of the most common types of stress faced by dairy animals, resulting in loss of milk yield and milk solid content. 12 healthy lactating Gir cows in early to mid of first to third lactations were randomized to one of two groups. The first group was left untreated while the second group received treatment with a polyherbal anti-stressor (Restobal^® liquid, M/s Ayurvet Limited, India) for seven days. Daily milk yield was recorded over a 30 days’ period of moderate heat stress (THI = 81.9). Protein and fat content of milk and serum cortisol levels were also measured at specific intervals. The polyherbal antistressor-treated group T1 showed significant improvements in yield, milk fat content, and serum cortisol levels over the untreated control group T0, upholding the efficacy of the Polyherbal Antistressor in heat-stressed dairy cows. Based on the results of the study, the Polyherbal Antistressor, Restobal liquid, at 50 mL twice daily for 7 days, was found efficacious for the reduction of stress and improvement of milk yield and fat content in dairy cows under summer stress.