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20192
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Subject: Livestock Production and Management × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2019 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    EFFECT OF HOUSING SYSTEMS ON GROWTH RATE, CARCASS TRAITS AND MEAT QUALITY OF RABBITS
    (College of Veterinary and animal Science,Mannuthy, 2019) AMALU SABU; Suraj P.T
    A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of housing on growth rate, carcass traits and meat quality of rabbits. Twenty four New Zealand White rabbits of both sexes (1:1) were weaned and selected at five weeks of age. The animals were randomly divided into two groups (T1 and T2) of 12 rabbits each with an average uniform body weight. Rabbits in group T1 were housed in cages with stainless steel floors and T2 with plastic slatted floors. The experiment was conducted during the post monsoon season for a period of nine weeks. There was significant difference in the body weight gain of the animals in T1 and T2 during 10th and 14th weeks of age. The animals were slaughtered and carcass traits and meat qualities were observed for pH, Water Holding Capacity (WHC), colour, Warner - Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF), collagen solubility, proximate composition and sensory evaluation. Carcass traits and bleeding efficiency were not significantly different between T1 and T2. Carcass defects such a bruising was found comparatively higher for rabbits in T1 than T2. There was significant difference (p<0.01) between T1 and T2 in dressing percentage (44.003 ± 0.579, 46.870 ± 0.742), WHC (18.717 ± 1.355, 29.218 ± 1.374, WBSF (35.714 ± 1.694, 19.612 ± 1.629), collagen solubility (30.91 ± 1.928, 38.26 ± 1.557) and fat content (p<0.05) (5.088 ± 0.783, 2.823 ± 0.314). There was no significant difference between T1 and T2 in pH (5.931 ± 0.013, 5.882 ± 0.022), colour (52.582 ± 1.252, 52.500 ± 0.797), protein (21.999 ± 0.583, 22.678 ± 0.219) and moisture (71.545 ± 0.517, 72.136 ± 0.217). The sensory evaluation of cooked rabbit meat from T2 showed significantly higher score for appearance, tenderness, juiciness, flavor and overall acceptability than T1. The results indicated that rabbits reared on plastic slatted floors had better growth rate, carcass traits and meat qualities and can be recommended to farmers for rearing rabbits.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    COMPARISON OF THERMAL STRESS ALLEVIATION METHODS FOR MURRAH BUFFALOES IN HUMID TROPICS
    (College of Veterinary and animal Science,Mannuthy, 2019) SRUTHI S.; Manju Sasidharan
    A study was conducted to compare the different thermal stress alleviating methods for Murrah buffaloes in humid tropics. Twenty-four lactating Murrah buffaloes were randomly selected from University Livestock Farm and Fodder Research Development Scheme, Mannuthy and grouped into four treatments with six animals each namely, T1 as control, T2 was allowed to wallow, T3 was provided with THI based automated foggers and T4 was provided with THI based automated wetting and forced ventilation and were studied under two seasons with different THIs (low – 76.93 ± 0.53) and high – 82.55 ± 0.35). The mean rectal temperature (°F) was 102.04 ± 0.02, 102.08 ± 0.02, 101.96 ± 0.02 and 100.89 ± 0.02 in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively during high THI season. The mean pulse rate (beats per minute) was 57.92 ± 0.15, 55.71 ± 0.15, 56.33 ± 0.15 and 55.23 ± 0.15 in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively during high THI season. The mean respiratory rate (breaths per minute) was 17.92 ± 0.15, 16.48 ± 0.15, 17.08 ± 0.15, 15.28 ± 0.15 in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively during high THI season. The respiratory rate, pulse rate and rectal temperature were found to be lowest in T4 with a significant difference with all other treatment groups in both seasons. On analysis for cortisol, no significant difference was observed in low THI season but significant difference was observed within the treatments in the high THI season. In high THI season, cortisol level in T4 group was significantly higher than the control group. Even though there was no significant difference, a substantial increase in milk yield was found in T4 when compared to control group in both the seasons. It may be concluded that animals in T4 group experienced relatively mild heat stress when compared to control group. Among the three thermal stress alleviating measures, T4 (automated wetting and forced ventilation) was the group that exhibited lowest heat stress during high THI which was evident by the lower values in physiological and biochemical parameters. So, it could be suggested that in tropical humid climate, automated wetting and forced ventilation with respect to dynamic variation in temperature and relative humidity maybe preferred in comparison to other thermal stress alleviating measures for Murrah buffaloes.