Browsing by Author "MAHENDER, M(MAJOR)"
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ThesisItem Open Access PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER RABBITS UNDER TWO HOUSING SYSTEMS SUPPLEMENTED WITH DIETARY PROBIOTICS AND ENZYMES(SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA, 2011-08) SARAT CHANDRA, A; MAHENDER, M(MAJOR); RAGHUNANDAN, T; RAMESH GUPTA, B; GNANA PRAKASH, M; KONDAL REDDY, KABSTRACT : Studies were conducted on 144 weaned rabbits reared in cage and backyard rearing systems up to 16 weeks of age to study the influence of housing system and supplementation of probiotics and enzymes or both, on the productive and reproductive performance and health. A digestibility trial was conducted to assess the effect of different rations on digestibility of nutrients. Forty eight rabbits were slaughtered at 16 weeks of age and remaining rabbits were reared until first kindling to assess their reproductive performance. The overall least-squares mean body weights at 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks of age were 568.29 ± 4.82, 690.34 ± 4.77, 963.44 ± 9.45, 1141.44 ± 7.69, 1322.17 ± 6.27 and 1499.15 ± 6.30 g, respectively with cage reared rabbits recording significantly (P≤0.05) higher body weights. In rabbits reared under cage and backyard systems, the effects of breed and ration were significant at most of the ages. In general, rabbits fed rations supplemented with enzymes and probiotics or both had significantly higher body weights at all ages. The overall least-squares mean ADGs were 18.21 ± 0.55, 20.72 ± 0.72, 18.19 ± 0.44, 13.15 ± 0.57, 10.89 ± 0.49 and 12.52 ± 0.62 g during 4 to 6, 6 to 8, 8 to 10, 10 to 12, 12 to 14 and 14 to 16 weeks of age, respectively. Cage reared rabbits recorded significantly higher ADG at most of the ages studied. Ration had significant (P≤0.05) effect on the ADGs during 4 to 6, 10 to12 and 12 to 14 weeks only. Backyard reared rabbits fed T4 and T2 rations recorded significantly higher ADG 4 to 6. The overall least-squares mean voluntary dry matter intake was 115.07 ± 4.48 g . Rabbits fed rations T3 and T4 recorded significantly (P≤0.05) higher DMI in both the systems of housing. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract and nitrogen free extract were 72.64 ± 1.26, 73.10 ± 1.23, 78.61 ± 1.03, 71.59 ± 1.32, 81.12 ± 1.34 and 70.80 ± 1.46 respectively. In both the housing systems, rabbits fed experimental diets recorded significantly higher digestibility coefficients than control group. Significantly higher pre-slaughter weight (2014.29 + 47.21), dressed weight (994.40 + 26.01), fore and mid cut weights (296.25 + 10.36 and 230.63 + 6.48) and inedible offals (374.25 + 9.73 vs. 346.71 + 9.73) were recorded by cage reared rabbits. The overall mean dressing percentage and weights of hind cut, head and feet, pelt and edible offals and the length of caecum were 49.38 + 0.19, 457.13 + 10.14, 253.46 + 5.19, 198.21 + 3.91 and 67.85 + 0.84 g and 49.06 + 0.40 cm, respectively. Influence of experimental diets was significant on hind cut weight and length of caecum in cage system while all the carcass traits except pelt weight were significantly influenced in backyard system. Meat protein and fat percentage were significantly high in cage reared rabbits. The overall mean dry matter (%), total ash (%), protein (%), fat (%) and cholesterol (mg %) contents of meat were 20.66 + 0.08, 1.29 + 0.01, 21.29 + 0.12, 4.05 + 0.02 and 0.10 + 0.00, respectively. The protein content was significantly high in the rabbits fed ration 3 and 4 while the fat content was significantly high in the rabbits fed with control ration in cage reared and backyard reared rabbits. Rabbits housed in cages had lower AFK (217.25 + 1.69 days). The overall mean litter size and weight at birth were 6.83 + 0.26 bunnies and 337.64 + 12.73 g, respectively. Mean total erythrocyte count, leucocyte count, haemoglobin content, PCV, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, blood glucose, serum cholesterol, SGPT, SGOT, Serum protein, Albumin, Globulin and AG ratio were 7.52 0.12 x106/mm³, 6.29 0.08 x103/mm³, 10.77 0.06 g/dl, 34.25 0.37%, 35.71 1.03%, 60.27 1.38%, 1.35 0.14%, 1.92 0.13, 123.79 2.69 mg/dl, 123.67 ± 1.66 mg/dl, 18.17 ± 0.50 IU/dl, 28.04 ± 0.73 IU/dl, 6.20 ± 0.09 g/dl, 4.08 ± 0.08 g/dl, 2.11 ± 0.06 g/dl and 1.93 ± 0.09, respectively. The overall mean SRBC titre was 6.63 ± 0.20 log2 units. In both the housing systems, significantly high SRBC titers were recorded by rabbits fed rations 3 and 4. In general, it was observed that rabbits kept in backyard were more active, aggressive and burrowing was observed. Immediately after weaning and during nights, rabbits preferred to stay together in backyard system. Rabbits in the backyard preferred to stay on the cemented kerb. The cost of feed per kg gain was reduced by Rs. 1.20, 3.63 and 2.89 in cage reared rabbits and Rs. 1.10, 5.61 and 4.4 in backyard reared rabbits fed rations supplemented with enzymes (T1), probiotic (T2) and probiotic +enzymes (T3) over control ration, respectively. The present study recorded higher growth in broiler rabbits, but the difference in the body weight of broiler rabbits under two systems of housing was not significant, suggesting that rabbit farming for meat production can profitably be taken up under backyard system, which requires less capital investment and provides valuable animal protein and remunerative income to the farmers. The inclusion of enzymes and probiotics to the diets had a positive effect on the utilization of dietary nutrients and also reduced the cost per kg weight gain, which emphasizes that the cost of feeding in rabbit farming can be reduced by utilization of forages especially legumes and by products replacing the costly feed ingredients. Thus, rabbit farming as a small enterprise can be recommended for small and marginal farmers, to improve the quality of diet and as a steady source of income.ThesisItem Open Access A STUDY ON BUFFALO HUSBANDRY PRACTICES IN KHAMMAM DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH(SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA, 2009-06) KISHORE, K; MAHENDER, M(MAJOR); RAGHUNANDAN, T; THAMMI RAJU, DABSTRACT : A study was carried out to find out various buffalo husbandry practices adopted by the farmers in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh. About 120 farmers from two mandals were selected for the study randomly. Farmers from representative villages were interviewed and collected available information. The population in the selected mandals possessed 99,236 number of breedable buffaloes, in which they had non descript (83.74 %), graded Murrah (14.81 %), Murrah buffaloes (0.01%). Agriculture was the main occupation among 84.5 per cent of the farmers and secondary occupation is 15.50 per cent farmers whereas dairying was the main occupation and agriculture was secondary under subsidiary occupation. More than half of the farmers under survey (58%) were able to provide insemination or natural service to their animals in heat at right time while 42 per cent of farmers were unable to inseminate their animals in time due to various reasons. Only 16.66 per cent farmers were utilizing the facility of artificial insemination, while 37.51 per cent farmers opting for natural service. About 85.85 percent farmers were feeding green and roughage fodder in combination and providing clean drinking water to their animals but none of the farmer was practicing silage making or other treatments like chaffing, soaking or urea treated paddy straw. Most of the farmers were collecting fodder from the fields. Only 3.0 per cent farmers were feeding additional concentrates to pregnant animals and rest were not feeding. As a part of heat/summer management, 51.00 per cent farmers were allowing their buffaloes to wallow in the village tanks during hotter parts of the day and 49.16 per cent farmers were washing their animals by splashing water manually. Washing of animals and udder before milking has been practiced by 15.68 and 98.40 per cent farmers, respectively. Most of the farmers (95.00 %) were not cutting the naval cord after birth while 17.92 per cent farmers were not removing mucous from the nostrils and all over the body and not weaning the calves from the mother (97.92 %) at the right age Deworming of the calves to control internal parasites has been taken up regularly by 39.16 per cent and irregularly by 60.83 per cent. Among the reproductive problems, still births, abortions, retention of placenta, anoestrus, and repeat breeding were seen in 2.5, 10.00, 8.30, 67.00 and 12.5 percent, respectively. Veterinary hospital facility was available to 76 per cent farmers and none of the farmer was maintaining records pertaining to their buffaloes. Major breeding problems reported were low (24.32 %) conception rate with artificial insemination Major feeding constraints faced by the farmers in the present study were costly feed ingredients and dry fodders, lack of chaff cutters, shortage of fodder during summer, lack of knowledge in scientific feeding and non-supplementing of mineral mixture. Majority of the farmers, 68.80 and 77.92 per cent had problems of costly concentrates and shortage of greens and dry fodder, respectively during summer. The effect of division, herd size and breed was highly significant (P<0.01) on age at first heat. The overall least square mean age at first heat was found to be 44.86 ± 0.26 months and ranged from 42.75 ± 0.31 to 46.97 ± 0.36 months. The non-descript buffaloes had significantly (P<0.01) higher age at first heat when compared to other groups. Age at first calving was significantly effected by division, herd size and breed. The dry period had significant effect due to division and breed only. The overall least square mean calving interval was found to be 432.51 ± 2.66 days over the two divisions surveyed. The calving interval was significantly (P<0.01) high on division, breed and housing. The overall least square mean service period was found to be 97.33 ± 1.41 days. The mean total lactation milk yield was 511.42 ± 22.99, 922.49 ± 17.52 and 1504.61 ± 22.96 liters for non descript, graded Murrah, and Murrah buffaloes, respectively and found to significant on breed. The mean average milk yield per day was 1.70 ± 0.06, 3.10 ± 0.05, and 5.09 ± 0.06 liters for non descript, graded Murrah, and Murrah buffaloes, respectively. The present study concludes that the management practices had a significant role on the reproductive and productive performance of buffaloes in the divisions of Khammam district under study. The non descript buffaloes were more predominant in this region and majority of the farmers were poor in certain aspects of scientific feeding, breeding, housing, milking and health care practices and need to be educated. Artificial insemination should be made available to all the farmers, which in turn results in up gradation of local buffaloes and improve the performance.