Thumbnail Image

Thesis

Browse

20151
Reset filters
Subject: Livestock Production and Management × Author: .MAGESH RAM, D × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    LITTER PERFORMANCE OF LARGE WHITE YORKSHIRE PIGS RAISED IN DIFFERENT FARROWING HOUSING SYSTEMS
    (COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCE-MANNUTHY,THRISSUR, 2015-04-13) .MAGESH RAM, D; Kannan, A
    A study was conducted to find out litter performance of sows in different housing and management during farrowing and preweaning period. Thirty Large White Yorkshire sows were selected and randomly divided into three groups of ten animals each and were subjected to three treatments, i.e., conventional farrowing house with guard rail and 1/3 rd slatted floor ( T1), Farrowing house with guard rail with floor level ventilation (T2) and Farrowing house with farrowing crates (T3). The animals were maintained in the different housing systems from last quarter of pregnancy to forty five days after farrowing. Micro climatic variables, rectal temperature, respiratory rate, daily feed intake of sows, body weight loss during lactation, maternal behavioral scores of sows, mortality pattern of pigletsand litter performance of sows were recorded. Proximate principles of the feeds and serum cortisol of sows were estimated. Economics of litter production were calculated. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) room temperature was recorded in T3 followed by T2 and T1. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) room humidity was recorded in T2 followed by T1 and T3. Elevated rectal temperature and respiratory rate was observed in T3 group housed sows.There were no significant differences in average daily feed intakes between the treatments. There were no significant variations in litter size and litter weight at birth in all treatment groups. Litter size and litter weight at fourth week at weaning was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in treatment group T3 than T2 and T1. There were no significant differences in maternal behavioral scores between the treatments. The body weight loss during lactation of sows was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in T3 sows which was not significantly different between T2 and T1. There were no significant differences in serum cortisol level between the treatment at the beginning and at the end of experiment. Mortality of piglets in three different farrowing housing systems had a significant difference (P < 0.05) between all the treatments. Mortality of piglets noticed in first two days after birth were similar (P > 0.05) in all three farrowing system. Mortality incidence happened in first three days of piglets after farrowing in T1, T2 and T3 was 62.5 %, 71.4 % and 66.7 % from the total preweaning piglet mortality. Cost of production per kg live weight of piglets on housing cost basis was higher in T1 followed by T2. T3 had the lowest housing cost of production among the three different farrowing systems. Time (years) required to pay back the housing cost for T3, T2 and T1 is 1.63, 2.94 and 3.11 respectively. From this study it is concluded that farrowing house with farrowing crate significantly improves the litter performance of sows in terms of more litter size and weight at weaning and reduces the piglet mortality. It had economic benefit compared with other treatments.