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2015 - 20162
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Author: KUMAR, SUNIL × Start date: 2009 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    STUDIES ON ESTROUS BEHAVIOUR AND ESTROUS CYCLE RELATED ENDOCRINE PROFILE OF GADDI GOATS
    (CSKHPKV, Palampur, 2015-11-30) KUMAR, SUNIL; Sood, Pankaj
    ABSTRACT Ten adult dry and non-pregnant Gaddi does were used in the present study for estrous behaviour and estrous cycle related endocrine profile. The study was conducted during short days under natural photoperiod from October, 2014 to February, 2015. All the does were induced by PG (Iall group), four of which were investigated in the subsequent spontaneous estrous cycle (S group). Information on the later set of goats during induced estrus (from the Iall group) was also used and categorized in a third group (I) to draw a comparison of estrous behaviour characteristics and endocrinology parameters between S, I and Iall. The endocrinology determinants were evaluated in peripheral blood plasma collected from estrus onset and every 3 hours thereafter till termination of estrus; in addition, day 7 and day 14 blood samples were also evaluated. A comparison of estrous behaviour characteristics was also made between confined (C) versus grazing (G) conditions. The average time interval from PG administration to estrous onset was 76.1±3.8 hours. Standing to be mounted, biting of estrus female, sniffing of vulva and tail flagging were most frequent signs characterizing onset of estrus, irrespective of PG injection or housing conditions. Unlike G condition, where all estrous signs peaked at 3 to 3.5 hours after estrous onset, all the other estrous behaviour signs attained peak frequency at 6 to 12.5 hours post estrous onset in S, I and Iall groups and C condition. Overall, estrous expression was better in S estrus and in C condition compared to their respective corresponding groups. There was no significant difference in estrous duration, estrous onset to ovulation and follicular diameter of S versus I versus Iall groups (28.4±1.4 versus 32.0±5.3 versus 30.6±4.1 h, 23.9±2.1 versus 28.5±2.7 versus 24.0±5.6 h and 9.8±0.6 versus 9.3±0.5 versus 9.5±0.5 mm, respectively). Double ovulation was present in one goat of the I group. There was no significant difference in ultrasonography assisted ovulatory and other associated endocrine determinants between the S, I and Iall groups. Estradiol17β, LH peak concentration, their timings from estrous onset, estradiol- 17β peak to ovulation interval and LH peak to ovulation interval did not differ significantly in all the three groups. The day 7 and day 14 plasma progesterone concentrations did not differ and the average values ranged from 6.5±1.1 to 7.2±1.9 ng/ml at day 7 and 10.9±2.6 to 12.4±2.1 ng/ml at day 14 in S, I and Iall groups. Genital discharge fern pattern differed with stage of estrus. Typical fern pattern coincided with peak frequency of estrous behaviour signs except under G condition, where the peak per se occurred much early. Induction of estrus did not affect ovulatory and endocrine characteristics.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    EFFECT OF VEGETATIVE BARRIERS AND IMPROVED FORAGE SPECIES ON PRODUCTIVITY OF DEGRADED GRASSLAND
    (CSKHPKV, Palampur, 2016-06) KUMAR, SUNIL; Kumar, Naveen
    Effect of vegetative barriers and improved forage species on productivity of degraded grassland was studied during Kharif 2013 and Kharif 2014 in an ongoing experiment from Kharif 2010, at Research Farm of Fodder Section, Department of Crop Improvement, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur with a view to assess the effect of vegetative barriers viz., napier bajra hybrid (Pennisetum purpureum L. x P. americanum L.), setaria grass (Setaria anceps L.) and no vegetative barrier in main plot and forage species viz., setaria grass, stylosanthes (Stylosanthes scabra L.), setaria grass + stylosanthes and existing forage species in sub plot on forage yield, quality, soil moisture content, chemical properties of soil and economics under degraded grassland conditions. The soil of the experimental site was silty clay loam in texture; medium in organic carbon and low in available nitrogen and medium in available phosphorus and potassium. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with three replications. Forage species in sole stand as well as in the grass + legume mixture had taller plants, more number of shoots and better leaf stem ratio under different vegetative barriers. Setaria grass as vegetative barrier produced 87.69 and 88.49 per cent more green and dry fodder yields, respectively over no vegetative barrier. The respective increase by vegetative barrier of napier bajra hybrid was 76.60 and 81.55 per cent. Setaria grass + stylosanthes produced 25.42, 87.51 and 92.29 per cent more green fodder yield over setaria grass, stylosanthes and existing forage species, respectively, with respective increase of 11.75, 70.55 and 118.86 per cent in dry fodder yield. Higher net monetary returns of Rs. 23562 ha-1 and B: C ratio of 1.82 was obtained in vegetative barrier of setaria grass and followed by vegetative barrier of napier bajra hybrid. Setaria grass grown with stylosanthes resulted in significantly higher net returns of Rs. 28229 ha-1 and B: C ratio of 2.03. Better crude protein content, crude protein yield, calcium and magnesium contents and lower acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre contents were observed in improved forage species. Setaria grass + stylosanthes also resulted in higher microbial biomass carbon content build up in the soil. Vegetative barriers as well as improved forage species helped to conserve the soil moisture content appreciably under degraded grassland conditions