author(s)
Shailesh Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Aashaq Hussain Dar, Jyoti Palod, SK Singh and Anil Kumar

abstract
The present experiment was conducted to study the effect of Aloe barbadensis supplementation through mixing in milk on hematological and certain rumen fluid parameters of crossbred calves. For this purpose, a 56 day’s feeding trial was conducted on growing crossbred calves. Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) was supplemented at graded levels as powder of leaf of Aloe vera (2 g/Kg body weight and 4 g/ Kg body weight) through milk to treatment groups T1, and T2, respectively with 3 replicates of 12 crossbred calves, each for a period of 56 days. The overall mean haemoglobin, packed cell volume percentage, total leucocyte count, neutrophil and lymphocyte number differed significantly (P<0.05) between aloe vera supplemented groups and control. Total volatile fatty acids (mEq/dl) in Aloe vera supplemented group were significantly higher at 42^th day and 56^th day of experimental trial compared to control group. The T₂ supplemented group had significantly lower ruminal bacterial populations than control at 42^nd and 56^th of experiment. Rumenal bacterial population was highest and lowest in T1 and T2 groups respectively. The study revealed that Aloe barbadensis supplementation of aloe vera in milk would be beneficial in increasing blood profile (Hb, PCV, TEC and TLC), total volatile fatty acids concentration and bacterial count in cross bred calves. Thus Aloe barbadensis supplementation helps in early development of rumen.