Vol. 10, Issue 9, Part A (2025)

The present study aimed at nutrient evaluation of dried spent grapes (DSG) and its effect on gastrointestinal parasites in crossbred calves. Spent grapes, a nutrient-rich by-product of the Ayurvedic drug Dhraksharishta, are used as an immune booster and digestive stimulant. Eighteen crossbred calves (4-6 months) were divided into three groups of six animals, based on similar body weight and age, and housed at the Cattle Breeding Farm, Thumburmuzhy. Before formulating the basal diet for each calf, the nutritional composition of all feed ingredients and dried spent grapes was determined using AOAC (2023) methods, while their phenolic content and in vitro DPPH antioxidant activity were also evaluated.
Over a 90-day feeding trial, the T₁ group was fed a basal diet, and the T₂ and T₃ groups were fed 5 per cent and 10 per cent DSG-incorporated basal diets, respectively. Faecal samples were collected every month and examined to measure the counts of eggs per gram (EPG) and oocysts per gram (OPG) in the faeces.
The analysis revealed that DSG contained 72.61% dry matter, 14.44% crude protein, and 16.54% crude fibre. Additionally, the total antioxidant activity, assessed by in vitro DPPH assay, showed 59.38% inhibition, while the total phenolic content was determined to be 98.72 mg GAE/g.
The monthly eggs per gram data indicated that calves were infected with Strongyle spp., Trichuris spp., Moniezia spp., and Eimeria spp. at various stages during the feeding trial. The level of infection was comparatively higher in the control group (T₁), while the T₂ group, supplemented with 5% dried spent grapes (DSG), showed moderate infection, and the T₃ group, receiving 10% DSG, showed the lowest rates of infection.
It can be concluded that dried spent grapes can be incorporated in calf starter without compromising growth performance, and as a natural anthelmintic against gut parasites.