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Theses

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1992 - 19972
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Subject: Livestock Production and Management × Author: Joseph Mathew × End date: 2006 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of plane of feeding during pre-partum and lactating stages on mothering ability and subsequent conception in sows
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1992) Joseph Mathew; Kurien Thomas
    Thirty six pregnant gilts were randomly maintained on three different planes of feeding with respect to crude protein (CP) and digestible energy (DE) viz. (i) NRC recommended levels as control (ii) a high plane of 10% increase of CP with respect to NRC level and (iii) a low plane of 10% decrease of CP and DE with respect to NRC – at four stages A, B, C, and D which represented the periods 56 – 83 days of gestation, 84 days to farrowing, farrowing to 28 days and 29 to 56 days post – partum respectively. Shifting of plane of feeding from low to high plane and vice versa while NRC level treated as control, resulted in nine treatment groups each having four experimental units. The body weight gain/ loss of the dam in stages A and D, live litter size and weight at birth, litter size and weight at weaning, parturient and suckling behaviour – expressed as a score – feed consumption of sow and the litter and the overall mothering ability of the sow expressed as composite sow index were beneficially influenced by a high plane of feeding when compared to NRC, while the low plane of feeding was significantly (P < 0.01) poor with respect to almost all the above traits. However, the total litter size at birth, average birth weight of live piglets, feeding and post – weaning oestrus behaviour – expressed as scroes - and conception rate were not significantly affected by plane of feeding. Overall results suggested that a switch – over to high plane of feeding at 84 days of gestation till weaning is most efficient with respect to litter output, economy and post – weaning conception.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of enrichment of environment and halothane sensitivity on performance of large white yorkshire and desi pigs
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Joseph Mathew; KAU; Thomas, C K
    The effect of environmental variables, halothane sensitivity and environmental enrichments in the form of wallowing, water sprinkling and access to a shaded range on various production and reproduction traits of exotic(LWY) and Desi pigs was assessed by conducting a study in Kerala Agricultural University Pig Breeding Farm , Mannuthy (UPBF). Significant correlations were found between environmental variables and important production and reproduction traits in both breeds . The incidence o f . halothane sensitivity was found to be higher in LWY when compared to that of Desi.A clear breed difference was noticed between Desi and LWY with respect to traits such as body weight,daily weight gain,body measurements, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency(FCE), weaning weight,cost of production for unit meat and weaned piglet.Environmental enrichments were found to- be beneficial for most of the traits such as body weight, daily weight gain,FCE,conception rate,live litter size at birth,birth weight,litter weight at weaning ' and average weaning weight.When halothane sensitive animals were better in FCE and growth rate, halothane resistant animals came out with good reproduction results.But positive animals with environmental enrichments performed better than negative in certain traits.The biochemical traits associated with halothane sensitivity were inconsistent.But clear trends with breed and genetic groups existed between halothane positive and negative animals.An apparently clear interaction between breeds, genotype and environmental enrichments were niticed in certain production and reproduction traits.Provision for access to a shaded range was found to be beneficial for fattening pigs with respect to FCE and growth rate.Wallowing and water sprinkling have got negative effect on these traits.But for reproduction traits all the above enrichments had beneficial effeet.Based on the observations and the results suitable combinations of various environmental enrichments for different breeds, genotypes and purpose were’ designed which may be used as tools for developing managemental systems under different situations.