Thumbnail Image

Theses

Browse

1998 - 19994
Reset filters
Subject: Livestock Production and Management × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1998 × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Feeding techniques to enhance the growth in calves
    (Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Reny, K Oommen; KAU; Thomas, C K
    With the objective of investigating the feasibility of the technique of liquid feeding of concentrates to calves through nipple buckets with and with out incorporation of blood meal in the ration, 24 calves below one month of age at Cattle Breeding Farm Thumburmuzhy, Kerala Agricultural university were randomly allotted to four treatment groups. The four treatment groups were Tl - dry feeding and no supplementation of blood meal. Tz - dry feeding and supplementation with blood meal T3 - liquid feeding and no supplementation with blood meal. T. - liquid feeding .and supplementation with blood meal. The dry feeding groups were offered feed in feeding baskets and the same feed suspended in water was fed to liquid feeding groups through feeding nipples fixed on aluminium buckets. The experiment was conducted during the months of April to September, 1997 where the temperature Humidity Index values were above 75 per cent indicating a stressful environment due to the combined effect of high temperature and high humidity which adversely affected the growth of calves in all four treatment groups. Intakes of water, concentrate and roughage were not significantly different between treatment groups but liquid feeding group showed a slightly higher trend on water intake. There was no significant difference between treatment groups in terms of live weight gain, body length, height and chest girth. But the general trend varied for live weight and chest girth. Body weights were lower in T) and T4 groups where liquid feeding was resorted to. The dry feeding group had better chest girth than liquid feeding group which reflected in their live weight gain also. Monthly values of haematocrit, haemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum glucose, serum cholesterol and plasma protein were not significantly different between treatment groups. But treatment groups receiving blood meal showed slightly higher haemoglobin per cent. The plasma protein values were slightly higher in groups receiving ration in dry form which had a higher daily weight gain. Treatment groups on liquid diet had more episodes of diarrhea than those on dry diet. Treatment groups showed no significant difference with regard to carcass characteristics but the trend indicated higher meat yield from groups receiving dry feed. Only during the last two months, i.e., in the fifth and sixth months when the rumen is somewhat fully developed, some beneficial effect of liquid mode of feeding was evident. Liquid feeding through nipple is known to bypass rumen and in animals with ill developed ~umen, liquid feeding should show beneficial effects on growth. In the present 'study such a difference could not be observed possibly due to the fact that all the rations contained fish meal which has high content of protein escaping rumen degradation. The level of 30 per cent replacement of protein by blood meal showed no retardation in feed intake or growth in the experimental animals.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Heat stress alleviating measures for crossbred cows
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Thirumurugan, P; KAU; Saseendran, P C
    An experiment was conducted to find the effect of sprinkling water on crossbred cows during summer season oKerala. Twelve early lactating crossbred cows were selected and put into four groups of three each and were randomly allotted to four treatments as open house with sprinkler (T1), open house without sprinkler (T2), tie-barn with sprinkler (T3) and tie-barn without sprinkler (T4). The mean maximum temperature recorded in the T1, T2, T3 and T4 locations were 32.03, 32.17, 33.27 and 33.40oC respectively and these were lower than the maximum temperature recorded outside the animal houses (35.45oC). Both within the tie-barn and within the open house, the mean maximum and minimum temperatures and mean relative humidity morning and afternoon did not differ significantly due to sprinkling of water.But the differences between the tie-barn and open house were highly significant (P<0.01) and higher in the tie-barn for all these variables. Physiological reaction such as rectal temperature, respiratory rate and cardiac rate did not vary significantly between treatments for morning recording. For afternoon recording the differences were highly significant. Sprinkling of water in T1 and T3 markedly reduced the diurnal rise in physiological norms compared to T4. The difference between T2 and T3 was comparable. Mean weekly milk yield of cows in T1, T2 and T3 increased by 4.70, 1.22 and 1.71 kg per head respectively compared with T4. Milk composition such as total solids, solids not fat, protein and fat percentages did not vary significantly between treatments. Green grass consumption differed significantly between treatments and highest in the T1 (26.16 kg per cow). Daily water consumption differed significantly between treatments and highest in the T4 (31.72 kg). Haemoglobin, packed cell volume and erythrocyte sedimentation rate differed significantly (P<0. 01) between treatments. There was a uniform loss in body weights of all the experimental cows as lactation progressed upto the peak yield stage, thereafter the cows had shown tendency to regain body weights irrespective of the type of treatment given. Sprinkling water in T1 and T3 encouraged the feeding and rumination of cows during hot hours of the day and consumed significantly more feed. Sprinkling of water in T1 and T3 increased the intensity and duration of oestrus 'and successful insemination rate. The results suggest that during the summer season of Kerala tree shade or simple shade areas with roof supported on pillors affording maximum ventilation and sprinkling or splashing of water during hot hours of the day may be practiced to alleviate heat stress and reduce drop in milk production and fertility rate during summer.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of modified environment during summer on the performance of growing pigs
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Subramanian, T; KAU; Sebastian, K S
    An investigation was carried out to study the environment variables and the effect of modified housing conditions on the physiological norms and growth performance. during the dry season on the large white Yorkshire grower pigs. The modified housing include, Tl - without wallow and sprinkler, T2 - with wallow only, T3 - with sprinkler only and T4 - with wallow and sprinkler as the four treatment groups. The dry season (summer) characterised by higher ambient temperature (maximum temperature - 31.5° to 37°C, m: _ "_LllUm temperature 22.8 to 26.1 °C, mean temperature 27.4°C ._0 31.3°C), comparatively lower relative humidity (mean RH 63.15 to 75.68%) and wind speed (2.75 to 7.8 km/h). The b'~gher range of temperature was sufficient to cause stress OH the performance of the grower pigs as per the literatures. The treatment (T1) without wallow and sprinkler varies significantly (Prate, cardiac rate both in the forenoon and afternoon from the T2, T3 and T4 groups, i. e., Tl has shown more of phys Lo Lc g i.ca L stress reaction than other treatment groups. T4 was fo' n~ to be mo re : comfortable than T1• T2 and T3 were hav:'. 9 no significant difference except in afternoon body temper ture and respiration rate. There were no statistically significant (P<0.05) difference between treatment groups in the fortnightly body weight gain from the first fortnight to upto twelfth '"fortnight. The twelfth fortnight body weight of the treatments Tl, T2, T3 and T4 were 70.833 ± 2.114, 69.333 ± 5.816, 73.333 ± 5.681 and 71.667 ± 5.975. There were also no significant difference in the body length, chest girth and body height among the treatment groups in the fortnightly observations. Though Tl had shown significant (P<0.05) rise of physiological norms that had not reached upto the level of growth retardation. The overall fortnightly rate of gain (kg) and average daily gain (g) of the treatment groups of Tl, T2, T3 and T4 were 5.08 ± 0.60, 4.97 ± 0.54, 5.28 ± 0.56 and 5.17 ± 0.60 and 339 ± 39. 9 , 330 . 9 ± 36. I, 351 . 7 ± 37. 6 and 343. 9 ± 36. 0 . Under restricted feeding regime, T3 was having relatively better feed conversion efficiency and lower cost per kg of live weight pr'oduct.Lon than T4, Tl and T2• The convers on efficiency of Tl, T2, T3 and T4 were 4.05, 4.15, 3.91 and 3.99 and cost per kg of live weight production 36.16, 37.03, 35.05 and 35.81. Based on the observations and the results suitable method of environment modification during the dry season for grower pigs can be recommended.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of housing systems on the reproductive performance of sows and gilts
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Ramesh, V; KAU; Saseendran, P C
    An experiment was conducted to findout the affect of housing systems on the reproductive performance of sows and gilts. Three types of housing systems namely, conventional house with wallowing tank (control T1), conventional house with sprinklers (T2) and range system (T3) were put to test. Eighteen sows and eighteen gilts were reared under each system. A significantly lower (P<0.01) temperature was observed in sprinkler system (33.00C) when compared to conventional (35.00C) and range (34.35°C). There was no significant difference in relative humidity between the groups. Significant difference (P<0.01) between treatment groups Tl with T2 and T3 in age at puberty and mating in gilts which were 305.47 ± 9.51, 270.36 ± 8.75 and 276.22 ± 5.65 respectively. The gilts under the treatment group T2 and T3 had reached puberty and were mated earlier than Tl group. The weight of gilts at the time of breeding was significantly (P<0.05) lower in treatment group T3 (75.39 ± 3.19) when compared to T2(97.63 ± 3.09) and Tl (93.11 ± 3.73). But T3 group gilts had compensatory weight gain during pregnancy and difference between treatment groups in weight of gilts at one week after farrowing and at weaning were non significant. The weight of sows at the time of breeding, one week after farrowing and at weaning were significantly lower (P<0.05) in treatment group T2 when compared to T3 and Tl Significantly higher (P<0.0l) percentage of oestrus occurrence, breeding success and intensity of oestrus were observed in T2 and T3 group than Tl group. The gestation length and post weaning oestrus period were found to be non-significantly different between the groups. The litter size at birth and weaning were 9.06 ± 0.26 and 6.87 ± 0.22 respectively in gilts and 9.38 ± 0.33 and 6.92 ± 0.05 respectively in sows reared under range system (Tl) which were highly significant (P<0.0l) than the litter size at birth and weaning obtained for gilts (5.8S ± 0.40 and 4.00 ± 0.69 respectively) and sows (7.09 ± 0.68 and 4.63 ± 0.70 respectively) reared under conventional system (T1). Between T2 .and T3 there was no significant difference. The litter weight at birth and weaning in T3 groups of 13.89 ± 0.43 kg and 62.72 ± 1.99 kg respectively in gilts and 14.35 ± 0.52 kg and 63.84 ± 4.04 kg respectively in sows were found to be highly significant than Tl group and non significantly higher than T2 group. The cost of installing sprinkler in conventional pen and providing range in place of conventional pen were estimated to be Rs.29/m2 and Rs.125/m2 respectively. In the present study the reproductive performance of pigs maintained under sprinkler and range system was found to be better than the pigs maintained under conventional system. But the range system may not be practical and economically feasible always when compared to sprinkler system.