Effect on Feed intake, Nutrient utilization, digestibility and purine derivatives:

Herbal feed additives like nutmeg (seed-Sabinene), cloves (cloves-Eugenol), Cinnamon (bark-Cimetaldehyde), Cardmon (seed-Cineol), coriander (leaves and seeds-Linalol), cumin (seed-cumialdehyde), Anise (fruit-Anethol), Celery (fruits, leaves-Phtalides), Parsley (leaves-Apiol), Capsicum (fruit-Capsaicin), Pepper (fruit-Piperine), mustard (seed-Allylizotiocianat), garlic (bulb-Akin), Rosemary (leaves-Cineol), thyme(whole plant-thymol) and mint(leaves –menthol) are digestion stimulant while cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, fenugreek (seed-Trigonelline), Horseradish (root-Allylizotiocianat) and mint are also appetite stimulator.The mixture of herbs like peppermint,wild pansy, chamomile, stinging nettle, common yarrow and thyme had stimulating effect on nutrient intake in Holstein-FriesianX Black and White Lowland crossbred cows. Ginger (rhizome-zingerone) is gastric stimulator. Shatavari supplementation increases dry matter intake significantly in lactating crossbred cows. Shatavari (roots-sapogenins, flavonoids and saponins) is used for prevention and treatment of gastric ulcers and dyspepsia. Jivanti (leaves and twigs-Stigmasterol, flavonoids, pregnane glycosides) has shown to possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory property. Phenols, flavonoids and terpenoids are active molecules suppressing the inflammatory prostaglandins metabolism while flavonoids, baicalein, baicalin, cinnamaldehyde, limonene, eugenol and carvacrol exert antimicrobial effect against Escherichia Coli, Salmonella species and gram positive bacteria (Streptococcus Species and Staphylococcus species).The active principles cause changes in fatty acid composition which increase hydrophobicity causing mortality of microorganism.The digestion and absorption of lipids is enhanced due to secretion of bile acids in liver and excretion in bile.Garlic,lemongrass and peppermint are used as antibacterial agents maintaining microbial ecosystem of alimentary canal. Green Tea which is rich in flavonoids is natural anti-oxidant. Mostly anti-oxidant potential is correlated with phenolic substances concentration (flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, hydrolysable tannins, phenolic terpenes and acids) and Vitamins (A, Cand E). Holstein steers which received clove supplementation show higher plasma anti-oxidant activity. Aloevera possess anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-oxidant, wound healing and anti-diabetic properties. Use of garlic has shown to improve growth rate and digestibility. Peppermint supplementation increases nutrient digestibility while garlic oil increases ruminal dry matter and organic matter digestibility.Urinary Nitrogen excretion decreases when herbs like lemon grass, peppermint or garlic powder are supplemented in lactating dairy cow. Garlic supplementation has no effect on purine derivatives or microbial protein synthesis. .Lemon grass and pippermint are used as feed additive to promote production performance of dairy cattle. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) use as feed supplement@ 150mg/Kg Body Weight /day has shown significant daily gain, early puberty attainment and age at first service in Sahiwal heifers. It has anti-stress properties and causes increase in weight of ovaries, uterus and teats in female. The supplementation of Shatavari (100g) postpartum alone can lead to 100% estrus, 75% conception when fed on alternate days in crossbred cows. It can also be used 100g along with 10g Aloe dried pulp powder after artificial insemination to improve conception rate .Herbal indigenous preparations like Prajana are used which lead to increased propionic acid production, solves anoestrus and breeding problems in domestic animals. Rasberry leaves, garlic, thyme, starwort, bamboo leaves are used for retained placenta problem.