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Theses

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1991 - 19973
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Subject: Poultry Science × End date: 1997 × Start date: 1990 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Characterisation and evaluation of indegenous ducks of Kerala
    (Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Mahanta, J D; KAU; Ramakrishnan, A
    A basic study was conducted to characterise the two distinct indigenous types of ducks, namely Chara and Chemballi of Kerala and to evaluate their production potential. Five hundred sexed day-old female and 100 male ducklings each from Chara and Chemballi type were brought from M/s Susan Roy Hatchery of Chennithala. The ducklings were reared on deep litter system of management under identical conditions till 8 weeks of age. Thereafter they were switched over to semi- intensive system. The ducklings were wing banded and weighed individually at day-old, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 30, 40 and 52 weeks of age. After 18 weeks of age, 300.females and 30 males from each type were selected for further studies. The females from each type were divided into three groups of 100 birds each. At 18 weeks of age, ducklings were wing badged and provided with individual laying nests to facilitate recording of individual performance. Drakes of each type were maintained separately to study the external morphology and growth traits. At 20 weeks of age, individual body measurements and plumage colour patterns of different body parts of both Chara and Chemballi were recorded. The age at first egg (AFE) of all individual ducks, the weight of first egg, egg weight at 30, 40 and 50 weeks of age, shape index and shell colour of eggs, age at 5, 10 and 50 per cent egg production, total egg production upto 52 weeks of age, per cent duck-day and duck-housed egg production at eight 28-day laying periods and at weekly mean basis of the flocks were calculated and recorded. Morphologically, Chara and Chemballi drakes were squat in posture and gait and they differed in the colour of plumage of the head region. It was lustrous greenish black in Chara and dull greenish black in Chemballi. The Chara females were usually blackish brown in the back, tail and wing. The Chemballi females in general were brownish black and brownish grey in the back, tail and wings. The average body weights and growth pattern of Chara and Chemballi males were almost similar upto 52 weeks of age, whereas the Chara females tended to be heavier in body weights at all ages except 4 and 12 weeks. Significantly higher body weights at day-old and 20 weeks of age was recorded in Chara females over the Chemballi. The average age at first egg (AFE) in Chara and Chemballi was 148.59 and 147.50 days respectively. The ages at 5, 10 and 50 per cent egg production were 144, 153 and 187 days in Chara, while those in Chemballi were 141, 148 and 184 day respectively. The average egg number per duck upto 50 weeks of age was 116.09 in Chara and 124.95 in Chemballi. The corresponding mean per cent duck-day production in Chara and Chemballi was 44.49 and 48.68 respectively. The mean per cent duck-housed egg production to 50 weeks of age in Chara and Chemballi was 41.78 and 42.91 respectively. The mean weekly per cent egg production of Chara and Chemballi upto 52 weeks of age widely fluctuated from week to week. It was also found that during the production period upto 52 weeks of age there were two peaks in per cent egg production in both Chara and Chemballi type. The overall mean egg weight of Chara (69.69 g) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of Chemballi (68.08 g) . In the laying periods of Chara and Chemballi there were no discernible clutch size/pause. Broodiness as a trait was almost absent in both the types.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Requirements of protein and energy for broilers during summer season
    (Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1992) Amritha Viswanath; KAU; Ramakrishnan, A
    An experiment was designed and conducted to establish the requirements of protein and energy for broilers during the summer season in the hot and humid atmosphere of Kerala. Four trials were conducted in a span of two years. In each trial the following energy-protein combinations at starter, and subsequent finisher diets were tested in a completely randomised design. Treatment Starter Finisher Diet 1 22% CP:2900 Kcal ME/kg 19% CP:3000 Kcal ME/kg Diet 2 24% CP:2900 Kcal ME/kg 19% CP:2900 Kcal ME/kg Diet 3 26% CP:2900 Kcal ME/kg 19% CP:3000 Kcal ME/kg Diet 4 26% CP:2900 Kcal ME/kg 19% CP:2900 Kcal ME/kg Trials corresponding to the same period for the two years were pooled and the results were presented as Period A (started in early summer and ended in peak summer) and Period B (started in peak summer and ended in late summer). Except for the difference in nutrient intake, all the management practices followed were uniform for the differenttrials and treatment groups. Feed and water were given ad lib. The chicks were fed with starter diet upto six weeks of age and finisher diet upto eighth week of age. Results of the study revealed that body weight at eighth week of age was not influenced by different- energy protein levels in the diet during both Period A and Period B. But difference between periods was statistically (P < 0.01) significant. Broiler chicks reared during Period A showed significantly lower mean body weight at eight week than Period., B. Dietary combination of 22:2900 in the starter and 19:3000 in the finisher stage upto eight weeks of age was found to be optimum for growth of broilers in summer months in Kerala. Body weight gain was not influenced by the dietary. treatments and by periods upto sixth week of age. Thereafter body weight gain was influenced by season. Broiler chicks reared during Period B showed higher body weight gain than Period A. Maximum body weight gain was recorded at fifth week of age in both Period A and Period B. Feed consumption was not affected by dietary treatments in both Period A and Period B, but was significantly affected by periods at seventh and eighth week of age. Feed efficiency was also not affected by different dietary treatments upto eight weeks of age. Broiler chicks reared during Period A showed poorer feed efficiency from sixth week onwards.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Dietary protein and energy requirements of ducks for growth
    (Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1991) Peethambaran, P A; KAU; Ramakrishnan, A (Guide)
    A detailed study was undertaken to establish the dietary protein and energy requirements of ducks for growth and also to ascertain the optimum age at slaughter in white pekin ducks. An attempt was made to study the general trend of growth in pekin ducks fed with different levels of protein and energy. An exhaustive review of literature has been presented on the effects of dietary protein and energy levels on growth and associated traits in pekin ducks. Five hundred and four (504) one-day old ducklings of white pekin breed were used for the study. Two feeding trials each for a period of ten weeks were carried out using nine experimental diets containing three levels of protein (17,20 and 23 per cent) and three levels of metabolisable energy (2400, 2600 and 2800 K Cal ME/kg). In each trial, the diets were fed to nine groups consisting of 28 ducklings in four replicates of seven ducklings each. The effects of protein and energy on production traits revealed the following: The requirements of dietary protein for optimum growth of white pekin ducks were 23 per cent until third week, 20 per from fourth to sixth week and 17 per cent from seventh to tenth week of age. The metabolisable energy requirement for optimum growth was proved to be 2400 K cal ME/kg diet from day-old to ten week of age throughout. The weekly body weights of ducklings receiving 20 and 23 per cent protein were significantly better until sixth week. Even though, ducklings receiving 17 per cent dietary protein were significantly lighter until sixth week, they recouped body weights by compensatory growth from seventh week onwards. The ducklings receiving dietary energy level 2600 K cal ME/kg have shown significantly higher weight gain and live body weight at first week. The second and third week gains and body weights were significantly higher in ducklings receiving 2400 and 2600 K cal ME/kg diet. The ducklings receiving 2800 K cal ME/kg showed significantly lower body weights and gains until third week. The weekly gains and body weights at sixth week were statistically comparable among the three energy levels studied. Rapid growth at early ages with 20 and 23 per cent protein was observed until fourth week. The growth was slow with 17 per cent level and peak gain occurred at fifth week. Protein x energy interaction effects on weekly body weights were non-significant. The interaction effects were significant in respect of sixth week weight gains, and feed intake at first week, fifth and sixth week of age. The feed intake at second and third week showed significant increase with increasing levels of protein. The energy level 2800 K acl ME/kg diet reduced feed intake markedly until third week. The cumulative feed intake at tenth week ranged from 7.879 to 9.423 kg per duckling, among experimental diets. The weekly feed-gain rations and cumulative feed efficiencies revealed poor conversion rates beyond eighth week of age. The cumulative efficiencies at sixth week were 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 with protein levels 17, 20 and 23 per cent respectively. The ready-to-cook yield at fifth, eight and tenth week were 66.39, 68.76 and 69.69 per cent respectively. The processing yields and losses, serum protein and haemoglobin levels; and the moisture, crude protein and ether extractives in liver and thigh meat were not significantly influenced by dietary protein and energy levels, and ages at slaughter. The marketing age in pekin duck was found optimum at sixth week on the basis of live body weight, feed conversion efficiencies and economics. Based on the above findings it was concluded that white pekin ducks require 20 per cent protein and 2400 K cal ME/kg diet until sixth week of age. In this study, the highest margin of return over feeding cost recorded with the above diet was Rs. 10.11 per duckling, at sixth week. Therefore, age for marketing pekin ducks was found ideal at sixth week on feeding medium level of protein with low energy density diet.