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ThesisItem Open Access Reliability of united score card for crossbred dairy cows of Kerala(Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2010) Dhanya, K; KAU; Anil, K SThe research work was conducted to assess the reliability of Unified score card for cross bred cows of Kerala. One hundred and ninety six animals of University cattle farms of Mannuthy, Thumbunnuzhi and Thiruvazhamkunnu were selected for the study. As per the Unified score card by Purebred Dairy Cattle Association, the animals were judged for frame, dairy character, body capacity, feet• and legs and udder. The type components were again subdivided as described in the scorecard to improve the accuracy of judging score. The body measurements of individual animals like height at withers, body length, chest girth, height at withers, height at pins, length of quarter, width between angles of hook and slope of rump were taken. The animals were categorized into four age groups, four parities and three stages of lactation. The emphasis of each of the components of unified score card to milk production was compared and statistical analysis was carried out as per methods suggested by Snedcor and Cochran (1994). Effects of age, stage of lactation and parity on judging using Unified Score Card were worked out. The body measurements were also correlated with the score and milk yield. Age, parity and stage of lactation were found to be nonsignificant for final score. The scores of frame, dairy character and udder for different age groups showed no significant difference, whereas, scores of body capacity and feet and legs differed significantly. The scores of dairy character and body capacity differed significantly with parity. No significant difference was shown for scores of frame, feet and legs and udder. Frame was found to be positively correlated with other components, the least being with udder (r=0.127) and highest with feet and legs (r =0.254) which was highly significant (p<0.01). Dairy character was significantly correlated with body capacity (r=0.169) and feet and legs(r=0.2S4) in addition to frame. Feet and legs was the only component to which udder showed positive significant correlation (pAge was found to be not significant for lactation yield (P~O.OS). The means of lactation yield differed significantly for different parities. All the type components were found to be positively correlated with lactation yield, all being significant. The standardized partial regression coefficients were highly significant for dairy character, udder. and body capacity whereas non significant regression coefficients were obtained for frame and feet and legs. Udder depth was having the highest regression coefficient (~=0.312) which was highly significant (p<0.01). Regression coefficients were significant and positive for skin (0.229), withers (0.188), ribs (0.174) and thighs (0.162). Both age and parity had significant positive correlation on body weight. Body weight was significantly (p<0.0 1) correlated with lactation yield with r=0.244. Height at withers, length, hip width girth and height at hook showed significant difference with age (p:SO.OS).The height at pins and slope were found to be not affected significantly by age. All the measurements except slope were significant and positive in correlation with body capacity. All height measurements, length and girth was found to be positively correlated with frame (p<0.0 1). Final score was having significant positive correlation with all height measurements (p:SO.OS). It was concluded that although the score card was found to be reliable on the production of crossbred cows of Kerala, the emphasis placed on type components was not in full agreement with what was prescribed by the purebred Dairy Cattle Association Dairy Cow Unified Score Card. Hence it was suggested that more weightage could be given to body capacity and dairy character compromising weightage on frame and feet & legs which necessitated further studies in this regard.ThesisItem Open Access Productivity and feasibility of pig production systems in rural sector(Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2001) Harikumar, S; KAU; Joseph, MathewThe productivity and feasibility of pig production systems were studied in the rural sector of Kerala. The study on feasibility of pig production and problems and prospects associated with pig farming was conducted in Kaiparambu and Kuzhoor Panchayaths in Thrissur district of Kerala. The performance of Large White Yorkshire pigs in organized farms and field units was compared. Majority of the pig farmers were having higher educational and economic status and were equipped with potential and facilities for economic pig production. The management practices were cost effective and suited well for pig production in rural sector. Problems and constraints faced by the pig farmers were minimum in two Panchayaths. It was observed that the feasibility of the pig production was higher in two Panchayaths studied. The resource utilization efficiency of the existing pig production was only 40.95per cent and 19.53per cent, respectively in Kaiparambu and Kuzhoor Panchayaths. In the comparative study between pigs in the organized farm and field units, the pigs reared in small field unit on 40per cent chicken offal and 60per cent restaurant waste recorded a significantly higher (P73.66 ± 3. I 5kg than that of 60.00 ± 2.79kg in pigs reared on hostel food waste in the farm. In the case of body measurements, pigs in small field unit group recorded maximum values. The feed efficiency (3.221 ± 0.15) was better in pigs fed on 40per cent chicken offal and 60per cent restaurant waste. The mean daily dry matter intake was a maximum of 1.41 7 ± 0.19g in pigs reared on concentrate ration. The average daily weight gain was highest in pigs fed on 40per cent chicken offal and 60per cent restaurant waste (367 .13 ± 16.64g) and lowest in hostel food waste fed pigs (287.96 ± 15.23g). Pigs fed on 40per cent chicken offal and 60per cent restaurant waste were recorded a maximum value for dressing percentage (75.52 ± 0.41). Pigs fed on .concentrate ration attained a maximum of 19.36 ± 2.2cm2 for loin eye area and a minimum of 28.0 ± 0.22mm for back fat thickness. Meat bone ratio was the lowest in pigs fed on hostel food waste (3.53 ± 0.19). Hot carcass weight (55.66 ± 2.49kg) and carcass length (65.00 ± 0.83cm) was more in pigs fed on 40per cent chicken offal and 60per cent restaurant waste in T4 group. In proximate analysis chicken offal was recorded a crude protein content of 35.63 ± 2.77per cent and ether extract of 30.9 ± 2.31 per cent. Concentrate, restaurant waste and hostel waste were recorded a higher NFE content. Cost of production per kilogram live weight of pigs was the highest in concentrate fed group (Rs 54.66) and the lowest in small field unit (Rs 12.64).ThesisItem Open Access Bio-climatological influence on physiological norms of sheep and goats(Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Mahadevappa, Gouri; KAU; Francis XavierAn experiment was conducted to compare the influence of climatic elements on the physiological norms of Ramnad white sheep (Ovis aries) and Malabari crossbred goats (Capra hircus) maintained at the goat and sheep farm of College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy. The preparation of an ethogram for these animals maintained in the same shed under same managemental conditons were also made. Fifteen adult females each of Ramnad white sheep Malabari crossbred goats were randomly selected for the study. The animals were maintained under a standard ration and housed together in a conventional type of goat shed. Animals were offerred clean fresh water ad libitum during the experiment. The experiment was conducted for a period of one year during 1997-'98. The climatological observations such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, windstroke, sunshine and rainfall were recorded daily. Again the experimental period was classified as two seasons, viz., rainy (includes, cold and wet; warm and wet) and dry (includes, warm and dry ; hot and dry) season, based on the climatological observations made during the experimental period. Physiological norms, viz., rectal temperature, respiration rate and heart rate were observed, and these showed significant higher rates during hotter months when compared to cooler months. The ambient temperature showed a positive correlation with physiological norms. On the other hand, the relative humidity showed negative correlation with the same, in both the species. The average rectal temperature recorded during the experimental period was 38.78°C in the morning and 39.69°C in the evening hours in sheep. The corresponding values in goats were 38.74°C and 39.69°C. The average respiration rates in sheep were 28.14 and 49.59 breathings per minute in the morning and evening. The respective figures in goats were 28.14 and 53.88 per minute. The corresponding heart rates during morning and evening were 66.54 and 87.72 in sheep and 73.61 and 94.38 beats per minute in goats. The hot and dry season recorded highest values for all these norms and cold and wet season the lowest. Highly significant to significant diurnal variation (P<0.01) were observed in these norms in both sheep and goats. It was non-significant with respiration rates and showed a highly significant difference (P<0.01) in their heart rates, between sheep and goats. Further, the seasonal variations among all physiological norms were also significant. Highly significant relationships were observed between climatic variables and haemoglobin percentage of blood and serum potassium in both the species. No such relationships were discernible in the case of ESR The average values of heamoglobin, ESR and serum potassium were 11.34 g/ 100 ml, 3.18 mm/24hr and 6.43 mEq/l in sheep respectively. The corresponding values in goats were 10.52 g/100 ml of blood, 2.17 mm/24hr and 6.22 mEq/1 respectively. Ambient temperature and heamoglobin levels in both sheep and goats were negatively correlated and this showed a positve correlation with the relative humidity. The difference between the species was significant in their heamoglobin levels. The season also had a significant influence on heamoglobin levels of both sheep and goats. The ESR did not show significant relationship with the climatic variables in both the species. But the difference between the species was highly significant (P<0.01). The effect of seasons showed significant differences in sheep and was non-significant in goats. Highly significant negative correlation (P<0.0l) was recorded between serum potassium levels of sheep and goats and ambient temperature. Relative humidity had a positive correlation with the serum potassium levels in both the species. Further, the differences between the species was non- significant. The season had a significant influence (P<0.01) on serum potassium levels in both sheep and goats The average body weight recorded during the experiment was 23.46 kg in sheep and 26.08 kg in goats. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences in body weight between months and also between species. Climatic as well as seasonal influences were non-significant on body weights in both sheep and goats. Measurements of physical dimensions of the body were taken at monthly intervals for twelve months. The average values in sheep were 68.89 cm, height at withers; 70.18 cm, chest girth and 61.72 cm, body length. The respective values in goats were 65.29 cm, height; 67.61 cm, girth and 63.51 cm body length. ETHOGRAM The experimental animals were observed for their basic behavioural patterns for six hours in a day for a period of 700 hr during the study. Based on these observations the ethogram was constructed and compared between sheep and goats, under farm conditions. Eight mam behavioural categories consisting of forty two different behavioural patterns, grouped under different headings were used for the study. The behavioural categories included, gaits; animal oriented locomotion; visual patterns; object and self oriented patterns; vocal and non-vocal patterns; stretching patterns; stationary body positions and stances and feeding, digestive and elimination patterns. The results revealed that, the goats exhibited more number of behavioural patterns during the study period than sheep. The patterns observed in these species were stronger and more evident in goats than sheep. Further, goats preferred browsing over grazing and spent most of the alloted time for the same. Sheep utilised the maximum time for grazing activity, with occasional browsing on plants, trees, etc. Defaecation and urination were the common patterns exhibited along with the feeding activities.