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2003 - 20044
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Subject: Livestock Production and Management × Author: KAU × End date: 2004 × Start date: 2003 × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Morphometry and ageing of captive male asian elephants (Elephas maximus)
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Sasikumar, M; KAU; Francis, Xavier
    The collection of morphometric details from elephants of different age groups would enhance our biological understanding and management of this valuable species.. A total of fifty two clinically healthy captive male Asian elephants, varying in age, under excellent management, maintained by 'Guruvayoor Devaswom Board' were utilized for predicting body weight and height from body measurements as well as determination of age from physical features. For prediction equations several morphometric parameters were measured. All possible linear regressions of weight on one, two, three and four body measurements were calculated. The equations having highest coefficient determination value (R2) with least standard error of estimation was taken for predicting body weight and height in elephants. The data were also divided into age groups (Group I (Young ones; 0-20 years), Group 11 (Sub adults; 21-30 years), Group III (Adults; 31-40 years), and Group IV (0 Id adults; 41-70 years)) and all possible linear regressions were calculated for each group. The best prediction of body weight (kg) for all age groups (G I to G IV) was obtained based on two parameters; the chest girth (cm) and right forefoot circumference (cm). Single and also the combination of various parameters were used for the prediction' of body weight in different age groups. An equation to predict the height at the shoulders (cm) from right forefoot circumference (cm) for various age groups of elephants was also derived. Various parameters were correlated with age of the elephants and average values of these parameters were salculated for age approximation. The data were again divided into various age groups (Group A (Young ones; 0-20 years), Group B (Adults; 21-40 years), and Group C (Old adults; 41- 70 years)) and comparison of parameters between two age groups was done. The parameters such as depigmentation on the trunk, hair distribution, hollow on the temple region, width of the ear, circumference of tusk base and middle, and height at the shoulders had high correlation as well as significant difference in various age group comparisons. So, these parameters could be useful for age estimation in male elephants with more precision.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Behaviour pattern of musth and non musth in captive Asian elephant
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2004) Sathasivam, S; KAU; Saseendran, P C
    Adult male elephants live in a highly dynamic world of changing sexual state, rank, association and behaviour. Physiologically musth is known to be associated with the elevated testosterone levels. There is a positive relationship between changes in testosterone and musth related behaviour, which make the animal in physiological stress. Captive male Asian elephants maintained in the elephant camp at Punnarthurkotta were utilized for the study. Experimental animals were grouped into normal, pre-musth, musth and post-musth stages. A total of 193 hours of observation were carried out by focal animal sampling technique using a behaviour score sheet. Faecal samples were collected from each animal in all stages and stored at –200 c, until it was extracted for measurement of faecal testosterone by RIA technique. The staple food for the elephants under study was palm leaves and napier grass. The amount of palm leaves and napier grass given to growing elephants were 60 to 100 Kg and 20 to 50 Kg, respectively. Similarly for adult elephants amount ranges from 140 to 240 Kg and 50 to 100 Kg, respectively. The nutrient availability of growing and adult elephants was calculated, which shows greater than the required level. The maximum percentage of musth episodes was occurred in winter (30 %) followed by summer (29 %), post monsoon (27 %) and monsoon (14 %). The body weight loss in the experimental animals before and after musth period was about 71.66 ± 25.77 kg. The age at which first musth occurrence was about 24.10 ± 0.50 years. Age groups of 20 to30 (78 ± 3.95 days), 30 to 40(114.53 ± 8.9 days), 40 to 50 (120.37 ± 15.74 days) years elephants shows increasing trend in duration of musth, but vice versa in the age group of 50 to 60 years(90.00 ± 12.82 days). The average behavioural scores obtained for elephants in normal stages was about 12.33 ± 1.22. In pre-musth stage scores and post- musth stage the score were 34 ± 4.69 and 19.66 ± 3.10, respectively. In musth the score shot up to 70.29 ± 2.46 in first month, 78.70 ± 2.48 during second month, 68.15 ± 3.31 in third month, 58.15 ± 5.55, 51.25 ± 14.44 in fourth and fifth month, respectively. The mean faecal testosterone level during normal stage was about 770.96 ± 35.62(ng/g). The levels has increased to 1821.58  129.54(ng/g) during pre-musth stages and reached a peak level of 4307.81  242.40(ng/g) in second month of musth stage. The positive correlation (r =0.82,P<0.0002) was obtained between faecal testosterone and behavioural score in all stage of the experimental elephants. The significant differences in the faecal testosterone levels between normal versus pre-musth (P<0.00001), normal versus musth (P<0.00001), pre-musth versus musth (P<0.00001), musth versus post-musth (P<0.0003), normal versus post-musth (P<0.00001) and post- musth versus pre-musth (P<0.0003) were observed in the present study. Quantitative indicators of musth are enlargement of perineal gland was 2.75 ± 0.2, 7.15 ± 0.7, and 4.75 ± 0.1 in normal, second month of musth and pre-musth, respectively. Temporal gland enlargement was 3.5 ± 0.3, 3.15 ± 0.5 9.5 ± 0.9, in normal, post-musth and second month of musth, respectively. Flehmen response (per hour) was 3, 5 and 8 in normal, pre-musth and second month of musth, respectively. Trunk rising (per hour) was 3,8 and 17 in normal, pre-musth and second month of musth, respectively. Freezing of ears (per hour) was 0,8 and 17 in normal, pre-musth and second month of musth, respectively. Qualitative indicators at the most intensive musth stage of second month were temporal gland secretion up to jowl region, disobedience to mahout, alertness, throwing objects, urine dribbling and green penis syndrome. In addition to that in captivity swaying and stereotypic behaviours was observed. The results of present study suggest that integrating the behavioural and endocrine level could potentially provide a more meaningful measure of musth in captive male elephants and can help to resolve the management problems.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of water sprinkling in summer on the productive adaptability of halothane sensitive pigs
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2004) Deepa Jacob; KAU; Sebastian, K S
    A study was conducted to assess the effect of water sprinkling In summer on the productive adaptability of halothane sensitive pigs. Twenty-four weaned castrated crossbred male piglets were randomly selected after screening for halothane sensitivity. Twelve piglets, six halothane positive and six halothane negative pigs were sprinkled with water during hot hours of the day .. The other twelve were treated as controls. The relative incidence of halothane sensitivity observed was 57.5%. The halothane positive sprinkled pigs had advantage over the other three treatment groups in feed conversion efficiency, resulting in least cost of production for this group. The cost of production per kilogram live body weight in halothane positive sprinkled pigs, positive non-sprinkled, negative sprinkled and negative non-sprinkled pigs were Rs.41.87, Rs.43.95, Rs.47.17 and Rs.48.73 respectively. Thus, the rearing of halothane positive pigs with water sprinkling proved relatively more profitable. Halothane positive pigs had a lower daily feed intake than the negative groups. Sprinkling with water had no statistically significant effect on the physiological parameters, body weights, average daily gain, body measurements, behavioural characteristics and carcass traits of the animals. Even though the differences between the treatments in the behavioural characteristics were non-significant, the number of aggressive encounters, the frequency of defecation and the quantity of dung voided were highest for the halothane positive non-sprinkled pigs. The overall results obtained during the course of the study are the unit cost of production was less for halothane positive animals with environmental enrichment by sprinkling
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Behavioural responses in captive male Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) to specified stressors
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Vivek, G; KAU; Saseendran, P C
    Assessing the welfare status of captive male Asian elephants is a growing area of concern, as ethical questions are raised about the psychological well-being of animals maintained in captivity. The study was undertaken as a synthesis of approach to measure stress through physiological and behavioural studies to quantify the welfare and ensure the well-being of elephants in captivity. Captive male elephants maintained at the "elephant camp" in Punnathur Kotta under the Guruvayoor Devaswom Board were utilized for the present study. The animals were divided into seven groups: group I (musth), group 11 (travel), group III (disease), group IV (restraint), group V (summer), group VI (monsoon) and group VII (normal). All the behavioural and physiological data were collected from the individual animals in the above mentioned groups. A total of forty two behaviours grouped into combined variables, were measured by focal-animal sampling technique using a behaviour check sheet to identify the behaviours indicative of stress. A total of thirty two hours of behavioural data were collected from four animals in each group, with eight hours of observation on each animal. The data were then analyzed using non-parametric tests to determine the significance of stress related behaviours. Most of the behaviours were performed with higher significance in group I followed by other groups in conjunction with a description of the context within which it takes place as an indicator of stress. The results indicate that musth is the single most stressful event. The prominent stress related behaviours identified during the present study were r.o stereotypes, temporal gland secretion and aggression. The frequency or intensity of performance of other behaviours was in line with the severity of the stressful event. A good correlation between the cortisol values and behaviour scores indicates that both physiological and behavioural measures can be used in conjunction as potential non-invasive methods to assess stress. Other physiological measures like rectal temperature and respiratory rate could not be used as a measure of stress, since the healthy subjects have the physiological and behavioural ability to cope with varying conditions of stress to maintain the normal homeostasis. Urine and faecal samples collected from animals in each group were stored at -20°C until it was processed and analyzed for measurement of cortisol metabolites by radioimmunoassay technique and urine creatinine concentrations by enzyme immunoassay technique using standard procedures. Urine creatinine concentrations were analyzed to counteract the variations in fluid intake by individual animals. Mean urine cortisol concentrations were found to be highest during musth (143.60 ± 30.07 ng/mg Cr) followed by restraint (115.62 ± 20.65 ng/mg Cr), disease (102.86 ± 22.44 ng/mg Cr), travel (93.07 ± 19.78 ng/mg Cr), summer (73.55 ± 11.95 ng/mg Cr) and monsoon (69.13 ± 11.63 ng/mg Cr) when compared to the mean values in normal group (59.98 ± 8.45 ng/mg Cr), indicative of the level of stress in each group. Similarly mean faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations (11,17- dioxoandrostanes) were highest during musth (449.02 ± 86.31 nmol/kg) followed by restraint (354.62 ± 72.07 nmol/kg), summer (337.85 ± 41.94 nmol/kg), disease (335.52 ± 56.81 nmol/kg), travel (300.14 ± 50.71 nmol/kg) and monsoon (249.60 ± 44.31 nmol/kg). Both the urine cortisol concentrations and faecal cortisol metabolite concentrations followed a similar trend in the values indicating that, both the methods can be used as a measure for reliable indicator of stress. The results suggest that, musth is the most stressful event and monsoon season the least stressful event. The results of the present study suggest that, integrating the endocrine assessment, such as cortisol levels in the urine and faeces, with other evaluations based on behaviour could potentially provide a more meaningful measure of stress in captive living male Asian elephants and can help resolve the managemental problems. The study underlines the feasibility of measuring faecal and urine cortisol metabolites combined with behavioural measure as a non-invasive approach, to answer questions such as animal welfare and stress in captive elephants.