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20172
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Subject: Livestock Production and Management × End date: 2017 × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on comparative efficacy of herbal methionine vis-à-vis synthetic dl-methionine supplementation on the performance of commercial broiler chicks during winter and summer season
    (G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2017-08) Nanda, Subhankar; Tiwari, D.P.
    Two feeding trials viz., during winter and summer seasons were conducted to discern the comparative effect of dietary supplementation of herbal methionine vis-à-vis synthetic DL-methionine on growth performance, nutrient utilization, carcass characteristics and serum biochemical parameters and economics (feed cost/ kg body weight gain) in commercial broiler chickens. In both the seasons 180, day-old broiler chicks were divided randomly into 6 treatment groups with 3 replicates each that is 10 broiler chicks per replicate. The broiler chicks of treatment group T1 (control) were fed basal diet (starter and finisher diet), whereas in treatment groups T2, T3, T4 and T5 basal diets were supplemented with 0.2 % DL-methionine, 0.15 % DL-methionine + 0.05 % herbal methionine, 0.1 % DL-methionine + 0.1 % herbal methionine, 0.05% DL-methionine + 0.15 % herbal methionine and 0.2 % herbal methionine by replacing the DL-methionine at 0,25, 50, 75 and 100 per cent levels respectively. In both winter and summer seasons, the feeding trial lasted for viz., 0-21 days (starter phase) and 21-42 days (finisher phase). A metabolism trial was conducted during 6th week of feeding trial. Blood samples were collected on 42nd day of feeding trial for the study of serum biochemical parameters. At the end of feeding trial on 42nd day, 3 chicks from each replicates were sacrificed for the study of carcass characteristics. The growth performance parameters obtained during winter and summer seasons were pooled and average values were recorded. During starter phase, there was significant difference in body weight gain amongst the different treatment groups of broiler chicks. The overall average body weight gain was 618.45, 637.73, 639.60, 649.40, 641.35 and 653.88 g, respectively, in broiler chicks of T1, T2, T3, T4 T5 and T6. The highest body weight gain was in treatment T6 and lowest in treatment T1. The feed intake, performance index, protein efficiency ratio and production efficiency factor did not differ significantly among different groups. The feed conversion ratio was significantly better in treatment T6 than other treatment groups. During 21-42 days (finisher phase) the overall average pooled body weight gains in broiler chicks were 1284.90, 1325.51, 1399.52, 1326.82, 1357.50 and 1354.42 g, respectively, in the treatment groups T1,T2, T3, T4 T5 and T6 and differed significantly amongst the groups. Body weight gain was maximum in treatment T1. The feed intake was also significantly higher in treatment T3, however, feed conversion ratio, performance index, protein efficiency ratio and production efficiency factor in broiler chicks of various groups were statistically similar. During the entire feeding trial (0-42 days) the overall cumulative average pooled values showed significant difference (0.01) in weight gain and feed intake amongst the different treatment groups of broiler chicks. The average body weight gain was 1903.29, 1963.24, 2039.11, 1976.22, 1998.85 ad 2009.75 g in broiler chicks of treatment groups T1,T2, T3, T4 T5 and T6, respectively. The feed intake was highest in treatment group T3 and lowest in treatment T1, whereas feed intake was statistically similar in treatment T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6. There was no significant difference in feed conversion ratio, performance index, protein efficiency ratio and production efficiency factor among the different treatment groups. There was significant difference in nutrient utilization in dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and gross energy amongst the different the treatment groups. The nutrient utilization was highest in treatment T5 and T6 and lowest in treatment T1 and T2. The various carcass traits in broilers were not affected due to either sources of methionine supplementation but dressing percentage was significantly highest in treatment T6 than treatment T1. There was significant difference in dry matter, crude protein, ether extract content in breast and thigh muscles of broiler chicks. The serum biochemical parameters showed significant reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides contents in treatments T5 and T6 as compared to other treatment groups. The serum glucose, total protein, albumin and globulin concentration were significantly higher in broiler chicks of herbal supplemented groups. The activities of SGOT, SGPT and ALP differed significantly amongst the treatment groups. The SGPT and SGOT values were significantly higher in treatment groups T1 without any methionine supplementation than the broiler chicks fed diet supplemented with herbal methionine as well as synthetic DL-methionine. The feed cost/ kg weight gain differed significantly during starter and finisher phase of feeding trial and the overall pooled values of feed cost per kg body weight gain were considerably higher in treatment groups and supplemented with herbal and synthetic DL-methionine than broiler chicks of control groups. It was concluded that supplementation of herbal methionine in the diet of starter and finisher broiler chicks improved the growth performance and nutrient utilization coupled with reduction in serum cholesterol and triglyceride without affecting the carcass traits but the feed cost per kg weight gain was increased due to supplementation of herbal as well as synthetic DL-methionine
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Study on various goat production systems in tarai region with special reference to Pantja goats
    (G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2017-06) Khadda, Balbir Singh; Singh, Brijesh
    The present study was conducted in two parts, in first part relevant observations pertaining to goat husbandry practices followed by 645 goat keepers of district Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital were collected by using interview schedule, interview guide and direct observation methods whereas, second part comprised of a study on various performance traits of Pantja goats recorded on the basis of progeny data. The data of both the parts, generated under ICAR sponsored AICRP on goats (Pantja field Unit) located in the department of livestock production management, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand). Results of the study showed that majority (90.39 %) of goat rearers belonged to Hindu religion, 55.97% of respondents lived in nuclear family with 53.64 % having a family size of more than 5 members. Overall literacy rate was 64.96 per cent. Majority of the farmers rearing Pantja goats were from Scheduled castes (43.88%) and 82.95% belonged to the middle age group. Majority of the goat keepers (47.91%) followed animal husbandry as a primary profession and 73.80% were landless peasants and 71.97% households earned a total income of more than Rs.50, 000 per annum. Women’s play role in parturition (73.95%), followed by cleaning of animal shed (61.40%), care of sick animal (56.43%), stall feeding after grazing (54.11%), care of young stock (52.40 %), spraying/ dusting (54.26%) and grazing of animals (47.44%). Majority of goat keepers (59.69%) maintained the flock within a shed near to own residences (79.84%) at night with incomplete boundary wall (43.88%) and 62.79% had kachcha floor in goat sheds and (84.65%) used temporary type of roof. Most of the goat rearers (78.29 %) did not have manger and 65.43% had poor sanitation in the sheds. Majority of goat keepers (65.58%) adopted semi stall feeding system. Grazing was done mostly on community land (95.97%) . The maximum proportion of goat rearers fed 100-200g concentrate/goat/ day. Majority of goat keepers (89.15%) did not provide mineral mixture. Majority of goat keepers (94.42%) practised heat detection. Pregnancy diagnosis was followed by 90.70% of the goat keepers by own judgment (92.825). Majority of goat rearers practiced deworming (70.39%), vaccination (55.81%) and control of ecto-parasites (61.24%). Majority of goat keepers (67.91%) were not aware of the care of navel cord of new born kids and 52.25% were not following the practice of castration of the male kids. Most of the goat rearers (92.71%) sold the female goats at own home through middle men (68.22%) based on physical appearance (46.82%) round the year for cash needs (68.84%). The study revealed that 87.59% investment was made on cost of goats and the overall variable cost contributed 77.89% to the gross cost. The net income over gross cost per household was observed to be Rs. 7267.89, 18133.40, 31243.90 and 56028.00 in small, medium, semi-large and large flocks, respectively. The overall least-squares mean for body weight at birth and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were found to be 1.89±0.02, 9.49±0.20, 13.09±0.18, 16.38±0.19 and 18.84±0.22 kg, respectively. The overall least squares means were measured at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months age for the morphometric traits viz. body height (28.55±0.11, 47.26±0.26, 52.23±0.32, 57.33±0.38 and 60.21±0.27 cm.), body length (26.90±0.13, 44.08±0.25, 48.05±0.15, 51.66±0.25 and 54.70±0.25 cm.), chest girth (29.11±0.15, 49.02±0.23, 53.45±0.32, 57.76±0.26 and 61.06±0.19 cm.), paunch girth (30.55±0.15, 51.83±0.29, 56.34±0.25, 60.81±0.33 and 62.98±0.25 cm.), ear length (9.55±0.09, 15.16±0.06, 16.28±0.06, 16.88±0.27 and 17.66±0.07 cm.) and ear width (4.57±0.06, 6.09±0.10, 6.72±0.08, 7.18±0.08 and 7.83±0.07 cm.). The overall least squares mean for horn length at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 2.12±0.07, 4.32±0.15, 5.93±0.18 and 6.46±0.18 cm, respectively. The overall least squares means for absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, instantaneous relative growth rate and Kleiber ratio were found to be 84.21±2.07, 39.93±0.77, 35.77±0.77 and 28.16±1.56g/ day; 3.98±0.08, 0.37±0.02, 0.24±0.01 and 0.16±0.01 kg/ kg; 1.75±0.02, 0.35±0.01, 0.24±0.01 and 0.17±0.01 per cent/ day and 15.29±0.16, 5.50±0.15, 4.24±0.09 and 3.53±0.37g between 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 months of age respectively. Based on results of present study it was concluded that the goat keepers of the region were not fully aware about improved goat husbandry practices. Pantja breed of goat has an immense production potential. The maximum potential has not been realized due to subsistence type of production system adopted by the goat keepers. It can be achieved by following improved husbandry practices, which will not only improve the productive and reproductive performance of the goats but also improve the socio-economic conditions of the goat rearers.