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2008 - 20093
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Subject: Levestock Production Management × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2008 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    DEVELOPMENT AND ULTRASONIC ASSESSMENT OF THE PRECISION OF BODY CONDITION SCORE (BCS) SYSTEM AS A PREDICTOR FOR PRODUCTION, REPRODUCTION AND HEALTH PERFORMANCE OF MURRAH BUFFALOES
    (Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, TIRUPATI – 517 502,A.P, 2009-02) ANITHA, A; SARJAN RAO, K (Major); SURESH, J; MOORTHY, P.R.S; KOTI LINGA REDDY, Y
    ABSTRACT: Body Condition Score (BCS) system is a subjective scoring method of evaluating the energy reserves of dairy animals which provide the better understanding of biological relationship between body fat, milk production and reproduction that helps in adopting the optimum managemental practices to derive maximum production and maintain better health status. In the present study new BCS system was developed for Murrah buffaloes. The skeletal check points were identified by spotting out the anatomical features which enabled to assess the fat reserves easily and by measuring the amount of fat reserves in slaughtered animals. The scores were assigned in a 1 to 5 scale based on the amount of fat reserves in slaughtered animals. The skeletal check points identified were kept in order based on the amount of carcass fat reserves and scores assigned to prepare preliminary BCS chart in a 1 to 5 scale using 0.25 increments. The BCS chart was further modified by correcting the demerits and a new BCS chart in a 1 to 5 scale using 0.5 increments examining eight skeletal check points was developed. BCS was assigned using the chart developed and the new BCS system developed was found to be precise and consistent. The new BCS system developed was subjected for precision in 10 buffaloes for each point of the 1-5 scale by ultrasonographic measurements of body fat reserves. The ultrasonographic measurements showed that the fat reserves were higher at the point between tail head to pins and as the BCS increased the amount of fat reserves also increased indicating that BCS adequately reflected in the amount of actual fat reserves. BCS was significantly correlated (0.86) with the carcass fat reserves as well as ultrasonographic fat reserves (0.85) and ultrasonography has the potential to determine fat thickness with a high degree of accuracy. The effect of BCS at calving on the reproductive performance studied in 24 buffaloes in a 4 x 6 CRD showed that increase in body weight of 80.33 kg was observed for every one unit increase of BCSc between BCSc groups of 2.5 – 2.99 and 3.5 – 3.99 and 82.34 kg between BCSc groups of 3.0 – 3.49 and 4.0 – 4.49. Buffaloes of BCSc above 3.5 with significantly (P < 0.01) higher body weights showed better reproductive performance compared to buffaloes of BCSc groups below 3.5 with less body weights. The prepartum and weekly postpartum changes in BCS studied showed that the buffaloes gained a BCS of 0.57 from 3 months prepartum to one week prepartum, lost 0.17 BCS due to calving, further showed a decline in BCS upto 9 weeks of postpartum and then started regaining BCS gradually until 18 weeks postpartum. The mean LBCS over the period of 18 weeks postpartum was comparatively higher (0.75 ± 0.05) than BCS restored in the early lactation which was shown as GBCS (0.34 ± 0.02). The difference of 0.41 units between LBCS and GBCS was observed over a period of 18 weeks postpartum. Buffaloes of BCSc group 3.5 – 3.99 showed the best reproduction performance among the four BCSc groups with less postpartum estrus period (46.66 days), service period (58.83 days), number of service per conception (1.50) and high rate of 1st service conception (66.66%) followed by the BCSc groups of 4.0 – 4.49, 3.0 – 3.49 and 2.5 – 2.99. Buffaloes should have the target condition scores of minimum BCS of 3.25-3.5 at three months prepartum, 3.5-3.99 at calving, 2.75 to 3.0 at around 8 weeks postpartum and 3.0 to 3.25 by 18 weeks postpartum so that they can show good reproductive performance. The resumption of ovarian activity was observed at mean values of 47.25 ± 2.39, 42.0 ± 2.91, 29.33 ± 3.33 and 39.33 ± 4.21 days for the BCSc groups of 2.5 – 2.99, 3.0 – 3.49, 3.5 – 3.99 and 4.0 – 4.49 respectively. Buffaloes of BCSc group 3.5 – 3.99 showed significantly (P < 0.05) earlier resumption of ovarian activity. The breeding efficiency was significantly (P < 0.01) higher for buffaloes of BCSc group 3.5 – 3.99. The monthly postpartum changes in BCS showed that BCS decreased from calving to two months of lactation and then gradually increased. Inverse relationship was observed between monthly BCS and milk yield. The lactation curve characteristics studied in relation to BCSc in 40 buffaloes in a 4 x 10 CRD, showed that the milk production increased from calving until two months of lactation, reaching peak production and then gradually showed a decline for all the BCSc groups of the test herd. The total milk yield upto 18 weeks of lactation was higher for the BCSc group of 3.5 - 3.99. For every one unit increase in BCSc, an increase of 395.27 kg in the 18 weeks lactation yield was observed. But as the BCSc exceeded 3.99 a decrease in milk yield was noticed. The predicted lactation yield was higher for the BCSc group of 3.5-3.99. For every one unit increase in BCSc an increase of 759.55 kg was observed in the predicted lactation yield. But as the BCSc exceeded 3.99 the predicted yield showed a decline. The peak milk yield was higher for the BCSc group 3.5-3.99. For every one unit increase in BCSc, an increase of 4.57 kg of peak yield was noticed. Further, the peak yield and persistency index showed a decrease as BCSc exceeded 3.99. For every one unit increase in BCSc an increase of milk fat per cent of 1.8 and 2.0 was observed at 6-8 weeks and 16-18 weeks after calving, respectively. For every one unit increase in BCSc an increase of milk protein / SNF of 0.55 and 0.54 was observed at 6-8 weeks and 16-18 weeks after calving respectively. As the BCS increased from 6-8 weeks after calving to 16-18 weeks after calving the milk components i.e., fat, protein and SNF showed an increasing trend. Buffaloes of BCS below 3.5 were more prone to mastitis, anoestrum and retained placenta indicating that thin buffaloes in negative energy balance were more susceptible to health disorders.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    STUDY ON CULTURAL PRACTICES AND CHEMICAL EVALUATION OF PERENNIAL FODDER VARIETIES SUITABLE UNDER LOW IRRIGATION INPUT CONDITIONS
    (SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY , TIRUPATI – 517 502 ,A.P, 2008-09) JAGADAMBA, K; SURESH, J; SARJAN RAO, K; RAVI, A
    ABSTRACT: The present investigation was attempted to study the cultural practices and yield of 21 perennial fodder varieties being cultivated in the fodder bank of Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati and to evaluate the varieties best suited for low irrigation input areas of scarce rainfall zone and to evaluate the chemical composition, cell wall constituents, protein and carbohydrate fractions to predict the energy content of the selected varieties and to evaluate the selected varieties for nutrient digestibility using four male buffalo calves by 4 x 4 Latin Square Design. Co-3, APBN-1 and Co-63 among the Napier varieties and Congo signal among the Guinea varieties required least irrigation input. Co-3, APBN-1 and Co-63 among the Napier varieties and Congo signal among the Guinea varieties recorded highest annual tonnage per acre as well as tonnage per cut per acre and also leaf area index. There was no significant difference among Co-3, APBN-1 and Co-63 but they differed significantly (P<0.01) with the remaining varieties in respect of LAI and yield per cut per acre. Congo signal among Guinea varieties and Co-63, APBN-1 and Co-3 among Napier varieties had higher (P<0.01) leaf to stem ratio. APBN-1 had the highest CP content (8.04) followed by Co-3 (6.59), Congo signal (3.66) and Co-63 (3.34). Evaluation of the four selected varieties i.e., APBN-1, Co-3, Congo signal and Co-63 in growing buffalo calves in a 4 x 4 Latin Square Design revealed that there were no significant differences in the digestibility of nutrients and plane of nutrition of buffalo calves. The TDN content of the selected varieties arrived at by in vivo digestibility trial was comparable to the TDN values predicted as per NRC (2001). Based on nutritive value and plane of nutrition, all the four varieties met the maintenance requirements of growing buffalo calves, however, APBN-1 and Co-3 were superior to Congo signal and Co-63 by virtue of their higher DCP content. Based on results of present study it was concluded that by virtue of low irrigation inputs, higher yield and better nutritive value APBN-1, Co-3 and Co-63 among Napier varieties and Congo signal among Guinea varieties may be recommended for scarce rainfall areas
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    OF INCORPORATION OF POULTRY SLAUGHTER WASTE ON GROWTH AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY IN DOG DIETS
    (SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY , TIRUPATI-517502, 2008-03) VIJAY, K; MAHENDER, M; NAGALAKSHMI, D; RAGHUNANDAN, T
    ABSTRACT : An attempt has been made in the present study to find the chemical composition of poultry slaughter waste and to assess the effect of incorporation of poultry slaughter waste at 0, 10 and 20 per cent levels in dog diets. The performance of Labrador dogs was studied in a growth cum digestion trial. Twelve Labrador dogs with an average body weight of 3.83 kg were distributed into 3 groups each comprising 4 dogs. The poultry slaughter waste was cleaned, autoclaved (1kg/cm2 for 30 min) and subsequently dried in tray drier (100 0C for 8 hours). Processed PSW was ground and analyzed for chemical composition which revealed 94.18, 91.21, 36.92, 25.02, 0.56, 8.19 and 8.79 per cent DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE and TA, respectively. This could be a valuable protein source in dog diets. Three experimental dog diets were formulated from maize, soybean meal, rice broken, wheat, wheat bran, oil, salt, preservatives, vitamins and mineral mixture. Processed poultry slaughter waste included in diet 2 and diet 3 at 10 and 20 per cent levels, respectively. All the three diets were extruded out. These experimental diets were fed to the Labrador dogs for a period of 91 days (81 days growth trial and 7 days digestibility trial). During the growth trial the ADG of Labrador dogs was 109.56 ± 7.62, 122.95 ± 3.39 and 124.46 ± 4.49 for diet 1 (control), diet 2 (10 %PSW) and diet 3 (20%PSW) respectively. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in ADG among the diets. The feed efficiency (g) was higher in Labrador dogs fed diet 3 (2.44 ± 0.09) followed by diet 2 (2.49 ± 0.08) and diet 1 (2.88 ± 0.20). However feed efficiency was statistically (P>0.05) insignificant. The DM efficiency was not significant (P>0.05) among the diets, but numerically 14.73, 12.79 per cent more DM efficiency was observed in diet 3 and diet 2 compared to the control. The CP efficiency was found to be 13.56 per cent more for diet 3 and diet 2 compared to the control. CP efficiency of diet 2 and diet 3 was similar. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in CP efficiency among the diets. The ME efficiency (kcal/g gain) of diet 3 (8.82 ± 0.33) and diet 2 (8.92 ± 0.27) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than control (10.64 ± 0.73) while diet 2 and diet 3 were comparable. A digestibility trial was conducted at the end of the experiment. The DMI/100 kg body weight was comparable among the diets, however 3.58, 8.14 per cent more DMI for diet 1 was observed compared to diet 2 and diet 3 respectively. The DM digestibility of diet 3 (68.33 ± 0.85) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than diet 1 (63.75 ± 0.93) while DM digestibility of diet 2 (65.82 ± 0.84) was comparable to diet 1 and diet 3. There was no significant difference in the digestibility of OM, CP and NFE. The CF digestibility of diet 3