Vol. 9, Special Issue 1 (2024)

Author(s): P Kumari, AS Dewna, T Bothra and R Panwar

Abstract: Gastrointestinal infection is the major problem in the sheep industry which affects the economy of farmers. Continuous use of anthelmintics and other chemical therapeutics can use resistance and other health issues in animals and humans also. Ethno veterinary medicine can be use as an alternate to replace these chemicals without affecting the health of animal. An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) alone and in combination on gastrointestinal infection and wool yield of 42 Marwari male lambs for 12 weeks, divided into seven groups, six lambs in each group in a randomized block design. The lambs of T₁ group were provided only basal diet (grazing + ad lib. fodder + 400 g concentrate per lamb per day) and were kept as control group and lambs of all other treatment groups were provided basal diet with herbal supplementation i.e. 0.5 percent Giloy stem powder in group T₂, 1.0 percent Giloy stem powder in group T₃, 0.5 percent Neem leaf powder in group T₄, 1.0 percent Neem leaf powder in group T₅, 0.25 percent Giloy stem powder along with 0.25 percent Neem leaf powder in group T₆ and 0.5 percent Giloy stem powder along with 0.5 percent Neem leaf powder in group T₇. Results of parasitic infection showed significant difference in the infection rates among the treatment groups and group T₇ have minimum parasitic infection compared to other treatment groups. Statistical analysis of variance revealed that there was better greasy fleece production in treatment groups at the time of first shearing, though it was statistically non-significant.