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Anand Agricultural University, Anand

Anand Agricultural University (AAU) was established in 2004 at Anand with the support of the Government of Gujarat, Act No.(Guj 5 of 2004) dated April 29, 2004. Caved out of the erstwhile Gujarat Agricultural University (GAU), the dream institution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. K. M. Munshi, the AAU was set up to provide support to the farming community in three facets namely education, research and extension activities in Agriculture, Horticulture Engineering, product Processing and Home Science. At present there seven Colleges, seventeen Research Centers and six Extension Education Institute working in nine districts of Gujarat namely Ahmedabad, Anand, Dahod, Kheda, Panchmahal, Vadodara, Mahisagar, Botad and Chhotaudepur AAU's activities have expanded to span newer commodity sectors such as soil health card, bio-diesel, medicinal plants apart from the mandatory ones like rice, maize, tobacco, vegetable crops, fruit crops, forage crops, animal breeding, nutrition and dairy products etc. the core of AAU's operating philosophy however, continues to create the partnership between the rural people and committed academic as the basic for sustainable rural development. In pursuing its various programmes AAU's overall mission is to promote sustainable growth and economic independence in rural society. AAU aims to do this through education, research and extension education. Thus, AAU works towards the empowerment of the farmers.

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Subject: Livestock Production and Management × Start date: 1990 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    EFFECT OF FEEDING DISTILLERS DRIED GRAINS WITH SOLUBLES (DDGS) AND ROUGHAGE SOURCE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF CROSSBRED HEIFERS
    (Department of Livestock Production Management College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry Anand Agricultural University Anand, 2021) Manish Pandey; Dr. S. V. Shah
    Present work was conducted at Livestock Research Station, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Anand Agricultural University; Anand (Gujarat) on twenty four HF×Kankrej (75:25) crossbred heifers to study the effect of feeding DDGS and roughage source on their performance. The duration of study was 168 days (total 12 fortnights). Heifers were distributed in six uniform groups on body weight basis with four heifers in each group. Heifers were offered three different concentrates containing 0, 20 and 40% rice DDGS (RDDGS). RDDGS was given in place of soyaDOC in concentrate.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    PERFORMANCE OF CROSSBRED COWS UNDER DIFFERENT FEEDING REGIMES
    (Department of Livestock Production Management College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry Anand Agricultural University Anand, 2019) Md. Manzarul Islam; Dr. S. V. Shah
    Present experiment was conducted to study the performance of HF x Kankrej crossbred cows under different feeding regimes on 18 crossbred cows/heifers which were distributed in to three treatment groups comprising of 6 animals each. Animals of T1 (Farmers’ feeding) group were maintained as per the feeding regime followed by small and marginal farmers. Concentrate feed was not given during pre-partum period and fed @ 50% of milk production in lactation period. Animals were devoid of mineral mixture and fed with paddy/wheat straw on ad lib. basis and 10kg/animal/d cereal green fodder. Animals of T2 (Modified feeding) group comprised of feeding with scientific interventions with resources available with farmers. Animals were provided concentrate feed @ 1kg/animal/d during pre-partum and @ 50% of milk production in lactation period. Mineral mixture was provided to animals @ 30g/animal/d. Legume straw and paddy/wheat straw (50:50 ratio) was given to animals after proper mixing on ad lib. basis and 10 kg/animal/d cereal green fodder was given to the animals. Animals of T3 (Farm feeding) group were fed as per feeding followed at LRS. Concentrate feed was given for steaming up in pre-partum period starting from 500g/animal/d in first week of experiment and increasing by 500g every week, reaching 3.5 to 4.0 kg till parturition. During lactation period concentrate feed was given @ 40% of milk production plus 1kg maintenance/animal/d. Animals were fed with 50g/animal/d mineral mixture. Jowar hay was fed to animal on ad lib. basis and 10kg/animal/d cereal green fodder was fed to the animals. Various observations recorded during experiment included body weight of cows, birth weight of calves, feed and nutrient intake, BCS, milk yield and composition, haematological, blood biochemical and hormonal profile, reproductive and health status of animal and cost of feed & medicines of cows etc. Data were statistically analyzed by CRD (Factorial) and one-way ANOVA using SAS and SPSS software, respectively.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    PERFORMANCE OF ADULT SURTI GOATS ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLOOR”
    (DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SCIENCE & ANIMAL HUSBANDRY ANAND AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY ANAND-, 2019) Rakesh J. Modi; K. N. Wadhwani
    The study was conducted on 27 adult dry non pregnant (20 - 30 Kg) farm born Surti goats of Livestock Farm Complex (LFC), Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Anand, Gujarat in winter, hot dry and hot humid seasons. The experimental goats were divided randomly on body weight basis in three treatment groups i.e. T1: Earthen (Kachcha), T2: Brick and T3: Cement concrete (Pucca) floor. Each treatment groups comprised of three replications and each having three animals. The experimental animals were maintained on ICAR feeding standard (2013) and Total Mixed Ration (TMR) offered daily in morning and afternoon in groups. The different behavioral patterns exhibited by goats were recorded by PTZ camera continuously for 24 hrs in each experimental season.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    GROWTH PERFORMANCE, FEED EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMICS OF REARING PRE-WEANED LAMBS SUPPLEMENTED WITH NON-CONVENTIONAL CREEP MIXTURES UNDER FEEDLOT SYSTEM
    (AAU, Anand, 1999) Trivedi, Manojkumar Motibhai; Patel, Ashok M.
    A twelve week growth trial was conducted on 24 and 21 suckling lambs in Phase I and Phase n, respectively. In both the phases, the lambs were assigned to three dietary treatments on body weight basis when they were 21 days old. In Phase I, the dietary treatments were comprised of conventional (T1) or non-conventional I (T2) or nonconventional II (T3) creep mixtures plus ad libitum mature pasture grass and limited quantity of green NB21 fodder. In Phase II, the lambs were assigned to conventional (T1) or non-conventional III (T2) or non-conventional IV (T3) creep mixtures plus ad libitum jowar hay and limited quantity of green NB21 fodder. Each treatment group had Marwari, Patanwadi and Merino x Patanwadi lambs in both the phases. The lambs were fed individually the allocated creep mixtures and roughages. The dams of all the lambs in both the phases were fed to meet their energy and protein needs as per ICAR (1985) feeding standard. In Phase I, the non-conventional-I (T2) and non-conventional-II (T3) creep mixtures were comprised of Prosopis juliflora pods 23 and 22 per cent, babul pods chuni 14 and 22 per cent and mango seed kernel 16 and 19 per cent. In addition to these, non-conventional-I creep mixture contained GN cake and rice polish each 17 per cent while in non-conventional-II creep mixture boiled Cassia tora seeds (9%) and com steep liquor (15%) were incorporated. In Phase-ll, the non-conventional-IIl (T2) and non-conventionaHV (T3) creep mixtures comprised of Prosopis juliflora pods 24 and 21 per cent, babul pods chuni 12 and 19 per cent and mango seed kernel 18 and 12 per cent. In addition to these, nonconventional- IV creep mixture contained boiled Cassia tora seeds (9%) and com steep liquor (14%). In non-conventional-III creep mixture, the GN cake (18%) and rice polish (15%) were incorporated. In both the phases, the conventional creep mixture (T1) was formulated using maize (43%), GN cake (15%) and rice polish (29%). In all, five creep mixtures formulated to content, mineral mixture'3 per cent and jaggery solution/ molasses 10 per cent. In Phase I, the average daily dry matter intake of solid feeds during the entire experimental period in terms of g/day, per cent of body weight and g/kg W.75 in conventional (T1), non-conventional I (T2) and non-conventional II (T3) groups were recorded as 230.00 ± 50.23, 2.15 ± 0.28 and 38.67 ± 5.86; 228.44 ± 47.52, 2.16 ± 0.25 and 38.66 ± 5.38 and 226.17 ± 47.02, 2.10 ± 0.23 and 37.73 ± 5.17, respectively. The treatment means did not differ significantly from each other. In Phase II, the respective values for T1, T2 and T3 groups were 253.12 ± 50.69, 2.00 ± 0.26 and 37.55 ± 5.58; 261.76 ± 52.72, 2.16 ± 0.29 and 40.06 ± 6.06 and 254.56 ± 52.49, 2.14 ± 0.29 and 39.48 ± 6.10. The treatment means for dry matter intake expressed as per cent of body weight and g/kg W0.75 did not differ significantly.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    FEEDLOT PERFORMANCE OF WEANER LAMBS ON AZOLLA BASED NON-CONVENTIONAL TOTAL MIXED RATION UNDER INTENSIVE PRODUCTION SYSTEM
    (AAU, Anand, 1999) Wadhwani, Kishankumar N.; Patel, Ashok M.
    The growth trial was conducted under feedlot system on twenty one farm born weaner lambs in two phases. The animals were assigned to 3 dietary treatments (T1,T2 and T3) on body weight basis which comprised of conventional (TMR I), non-conventional I (TMR II) and non-conventional II total mixed rations (TMR III) in phase I, the animals were individually fed. In phase II, the lambs were assigned to conventional (TMR I), non-conventional I (TMR IV) and non conventional II total mixed ration (TMR V) and group feeding was followed. Total mixed ration was fed ad lib in order to meet energy and protein requirement of lambs as per ICAR (1985). Each treatment group had Marwari, Patanwadi and Merino x Patanwadi lambs. In phase-I, the TMR I comprised of maize (22 % ) , groundnut cake (15 % ) , rice polish (15 % ) , molasses (10 % ) , mineral mixture (3 %) and urea treated wheat straw (35 %) the non-conventional I (TMR II) and non conventional II (TMR-III) total mixed ration comprised of AzollSy 10 % and 20 %, PJ pods 15 % and 17 % and corn steep liquor 12 % and 15 %, respectively. In addition to these TMR-II contained Rice polish 10 % and GN cake, 5 % to make it isonitrogenous. Both TMR II and TMR III contained same level of molasses, mineral mixture and urea treated wheat straw in TMR I. In phase II, the non conventional T (TMR TV) and non conventional II (TMR V) total mixed rations comprised of Azolla 15 and 25 %, PJ pods 20 and 17 % and corn steep liquor 12 and 15 %, respectively. In addition to these, GN cake to the extent of 5 % was added in TMR IV. The urea treated wheat straw was added at the rate of 35 % in TMR I and TMR IV and 30 % in TMR V. The growth trial lasted for 112 days during which the animals attained live weight acceptable in the local market. In phase I, the average daily dry matter intake during the entire experimental period in terms of g/day, per cent of body weight and g/kg W0.75 in conventional (TMR I), non conventional I (TMR II) and non conventional II (TMR III) groups was recorded as 721.60 ± 75.64, 3.46 ±0.18 and 73.81 ± 4.82, 757.28 ± 35.86, 4.04 ± 0.13 and 84.92 ± 3.26 and 671.63 ± 50.78, 3.80 ± 0.21 and 78.19 ± 4.38, respectively. The treatment means did not differ with each other. In phase II, the respective values for TMR I, TMR IV and TMR V were 642.29 ± 39.82, 3.32 ± 0.08 and 69.48 ± 1.90, 606.14 ± 30.68, 3.46 ± 0.05 and 70.60 ± 1.64 and 598.98 ± 31.14, 3.41 ± 0.07 and 69.78 ± 2.12, respectively. The treatment means were statistically similar. The average daily water intake (ml/day) during the entire experimental period during phase I was 3154.46 ± 327.2, 2735.92 ± 139.54 and 2454.62 ± 161.66 in treatment groups T1, T2 and Ta respectively. In phase II, the corresponding values were 2794.92 ± 254.12, 2662.08 ± 211.10 and 2654.91 ± 233.33 in TMR I, TMR IV and TMR V, respectively. The treatment groups in both the phases showed statistically similar values. In phase I, at the end of experimental feeding, the lambs in T1, T2 and T3 groups attained 25.24 ± 1.96, 23.51 ± 1.36 and 21.07 ± 1.12 kg live body weight, respectively. The body weight in all the treatment group did not differ each other but period effect was significant (P < 0.05). In phase II, the live weight was recorded 24.36 i 1.16, 20.34 ± 1.24 and 20.24 ± 1.49 kg in TMR I, TMR IV and TMR V groups, respectively. The difference between treatment groups was statistically non significant but period as well as period x treatment interaction was significant (P < 0.05). In phase I, the digestibility coefficient in TMR I, TMR II and TMR III respectively for dry matter (59.58 ± 1.72, 51.60 ± 0.52 and 51.98 ± 0.44), organic matter (67.22 ± 1.49, 63.53 ± 2.40 and 63.69 ± 1.42), crude protein (80.50 ± 1.94, 73.82 ± 1.47 and 73.40 ± 1.76), crude fibre (62.27 ± 0.87, 63.18 ± 1.32 and 59.10 ± 1.37), nitrogen free extract (60.37 ± 0.70, 57.48 ± 1.42 and 57.22 ± 1.64) and ether extract (58.82 ± 0.80, 59.69 ± 1.79 and 55.73 ± 1.57) were ascertained. The dry matter and crude protein digestibility of the TMR I differed significantly (P < 0.05) with TMR II and TMR III groups. In phase II, the corresponding values for dry matter (61.76 ± 2.10 , 53.27 ± 0.72 and 52.35 ± 0.99), organic matter (68.37 ± 1.17, 59.66 ± 2.09 and 59.61 ± 2.22), crude protein (79.94 ± 2.12, 78.54 ± 2.04 and 74.56 ± 1.58) crude fibre (61.85 ± 1.01, 63.44 ± 1.98 and 57.66 ± 2.01), nitrogen free extract (62.71 ± 0.77, 57.87 ± 2.26 and 53.08 ± 1.68) and ether extract (60.01 ± 0.71, 58.70 ± 1.37 and 56.20 ± 0.96) was recorded. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter organic matter and nitrogen free extract was significantly (P < 0.06) higher for TMR I than either of TMR IV or TMR V group. In phase I, the nitrogen balance (g/head/day) was 9.98 ± 0.40, 9.66 ± 0.28 and 8.70 ± 0.46 in lambs reared on T1, T2 and Ta rations, respectively. The treatment means did not differ significantly. In phase II, the respective values were 9.81 ± 0.50, 10.06 ± 0.28 and 12.21 ± 0.21 in lambs reared on TMR I, TMR IV and TMR V groups, respectively TMR I and TMR IV did not differ significantly but differ from TMR V. In phase I, the TMR I, TMR II and TMR III provided 13.52 ± 0.42, 11.34 ± 0.36 and 10.62 ± 0.13 per cent DCP and 61.81 ± 0.32, 57.72 ± 1.92 and 55.90 ± 0.55 per cent TDN, respectively. The conventional TMR provided significantly (P < 0.05) higher DCP and TDN than both the non conventional groups which did not differ among themselves. In phase II, the TMR I, TMR IV and TMR V provided 13.32 ± 0.34, 11.48 ± 0.30 and 11.10 ± 0.18 per cent DCP and 61.88 ± 0.23, 58.13 ± 2.11 and 55.48 ± 1.04 per cent TDN. The treatment means showed similar trend as that in phase I. In phase I, the dressing percentage on live weight basis and as the percentage of empty live weight under Ti (50.40 ± 0.83 and 59.63 ± 1.11) T2 (48.51 ± 1.05 and 61.89 ± 1.32) and T3 (48.08 ± 1.20 and 62.33 ± 1.06) group of lambs were calculated. In phase II, the corresponding figures were 47.5 ± 1.07 and 59.38 ± 1.11, 49.34 ± 1.12 and 62.93 ± 1.27 and 47.89 ± 1.03 and 59.96 ± 1.22 in TMR I TMR IV and TMR V groups, respectively. Similar was the trend with respect to primal cuts and edible and non edible organ weight. The feed efficiency in terms of DM, DCP and TDN intake (kg/kg live weight gain) in experimental lambs reared under TMR I, TMR II and TMR III groups was worked out as 8.10 ± 0.98, 1.11 ± 0.09 and 5.09 ± 0.45, 10.90 ± 0.87, 1.14 ± 0.07 and 5.82 ± 0.36 and 13.16 ± 1.1, 1.35 ± 0.13 and 7.13 ± 0.70, respectively. The feed efficiency in terms of DM intake was significantly (P < 0.05) high in conventional group as compared to non conventional groups which did not differ among themselves, but the treatment groups did not differ with respect to DCP and TDN intake per kg live weight gain. In phase IT, the respective values were 7.07 ± 0.97, 0.99 and 4,60, 12.56 ± 1,72 1.25 and 6.34 and 14.96 ± 3.44, 1.28 and 6.44 in TMR I, TMR IV and TMR V, respectively. The feed cost (Rs/animal) during the experiment was worked out as 623.55 ± 64.09, 352.50 ± 22.06 and 256.96 ± 16.42 for TMR I, TMR II and TMR III group, respectively. Both, TMR II and TMR III groups recorded significantly (P < 0.05) lower cost as compared to TMR I group. The total feed cost (pre experimental ± experimental) was worked out as Rs. 863.55 ± 64.09, 592.50 ± 22.06 and 496.96 ± 16.42 for T1 , T2 and T3 treatment groups, respectively. In phase IT, the experimental feed cost (Rs/animal) for TMR T, TMR IV and TMR V group was worked out as 472,82, 261.52 and 246.21 and the total feed cost (pre-experimental ± experimental) was Rs. 712.82, 501,52 and 486.21 per lamb. The trend of feed cost was same as in the phase I. Based on the enquiries from the retailers in the local market, the total realisable receipts (Rs/animal) in phase I were computed as 1292.15 ± 90.04, 1177.00 ± 60.48 and 1059.38 ± 49.32 respectively for TMR I, TMR II and TMR III group. The TMR I recorded significantly (P < 0.05) higher receipt than the other groups. The feed cost per kg dressed weight worked out as Rs. 67.01 ± 0.86, 52.46 ± 1.84 and 51.04 ± 2.03 for TMR I, TMR II and TMR III group, respectively. The TMR II and TMR III groups recorded significantly (P < 0.05) lower feed cost per kg dressed weight when compared to conventional, though they did not differ from each other. In phase II, respective figures for TMR I, TMR IV and TMR V were 1133.89 ± 47.45, 1039.09 ± 57.48 and 1009.42 ± 68.32. The feed cost per kg dressed weight was calculated as 61.60, 49.95 and 48.72 for TMR I, TMR IV and TMR V, respectively. The contribution of experimental feed cost/kg dressed weight in phase I was Rs. 47.64, 31.02 and 28.35 in TMR I, TMR II and TMR III groups respectively. The TMR I group recorded significnalty (P < 0.05) higher contribution as compared to other groups. In phase II, the cost worked out as Rs. 40.86, 26.04 and 24.67 in TMR I, TMR IV and TMR V groups, respectively. The returns as per cent of feed cost in phase I was calculated as 150.12 ± 2.46, 198.59 ± 6.64 and 213.57 ± 9.31 for TMR I, TMR II and TMR III group respectively and the values were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in non conventional groups as compared to TMR I group In phase II, the respective average values were 155.09, 207.18 and 207.60 for TMR I, TMR IV and TMR V group. During 06-18 hours of the day 75.05, 76.42 and 73.93 % of the total was feed consumed by the lambs in TMR I, TMR IV and TMR V groups, respectively.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND ECONOMICS OF REARING OF WEANED LAMBS AND KIDS UNDER FEEDLOT PRODUCTION SYSTEM
    (AAU, Anand, 1994) SAIYED, LIYAKATALI H.; PATEL, ASHOK M.
    The growth trials on twenty four each of weaner lambs and kids were conducted. The animals were assigned to dietary treatments on body, weight basis, under feedlot comprising of conventional (T1) or non-conventional (T2) concentrate mixture, ad lib. dry fodder and a limited quantity of green fodder in order to meet their energy and protein requirements as per ICAR (1985). Each group of goats had Marwari, Zalawadi and Surti kids and that of sheep Marwari, Patanwadi and Merino x Patanwadi lambs. The non-conventional concentrate mixture contained Mango seed Kernel (25%) and Babul pods (23%). The lamb growth trial lasted for 180 days and that for kids 210 days during which the animals attained live weight acceptable in the local market. The average daily dry matter intake during the entire experimental period in terms of g/day, g/kg w0.75 and as percent of body weight in conventional and non-conventional group was recorded to be 532.83±9.94, 72.28±1.69 and 3.83±0.13 and 566.75 ±10.49, 75.02±1.78 and 3.86±0.13 respectively. The corresponding figures in kids were 370.42±8.11, 60.38±1.61 and 3.35±0.12 for conventional and 371.94±8.55, 62.25±1.70 and 3.46±0.13 in nonconventional group. The treatment means did not differ significantly in both the species. The concentrate to roughage ratio under T1 and T2 group of lambs was recorded to be 54.25 : 45.75 and 53.89 : 46.11 and the same for kids was 55.25 : 44.75 and 53.33 : 46.67. The treatment groups did not differ from each other. The water intake of lambs in conventional and nonconventional group was 1.4 ± 0.11 and 1.58 ± 0.12 1/day and the same for the kids of respective groups was 0.807±0.08 and 0.938±0.08 1/day. The water intake (l)/kg dry matter intake under T1 and T2 groups of lambs was 3.12 ± 0.25 and 3.29 ± 0.16, respectively and the corresponding figures for kids were 2.10+0.20 and 2.54±0.21, respectively. These values were statistically similar. At the end of experimental feeding the lambs in T1 and T2 groups attained 19.3310.76 and 19.72±0.80 kg, respectively and the same for kids was recorded to be 16.10 ± 0.60 kg and 15.26 ± 0.63 kg, respectively, which were statistically similar. The average daily gain in lambs of T1 and T2 was 51.94 ± 2.84 and 49.04 ± 2.99 g and for kids of respective groups was 42.16±1.76 and 39.53±1.85 g.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    THE EFFECT OF RESTRICTED FEEDING DURING GROWING PERIOD AND STOCKING DENSITY DURING LAYING PERIOD ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND LAYING PERFORMANCE OF FLOOR REARED EGG-TYPE CHICKENS
    (AAU, Anand, 1993) SINGH, K. RASHBEHARI; PATEL, ASHOK M.
    An experiment was carried out in floor-reared Random Bred Control Population (RBCP) strain of White Leghorn to study the effect of restricted feeding (T1, Ad-lib., T2, skip-two-days a week and T3, 75 per cent ad-lib.)during growing period (9-20 weeks of age) and stocking density (2.5, 2.0 and 1.5 ft2 space per bird for S1, S2 and S3 treatments respectively) during 20-72 weeks of laying period and their interaction on the development and laying performance. The average body weight of the birds under different treatment groups at 9 weeks of age was at par. While at 20 weeks of age, ad-lib, skip-two-days and 75 per cent ad-lib, birds weighed 1281.42±6.97, 1174.91±6.19 and 1009.19±5.76 g respectively and they differed significantly to each other. During 9-20 weeks, T1, T2 and T3 birds gained 738.62, 629.64 and 470.14 g respectively. During growing period the average feed consumption of T1, T2 and T3 birds was 65.50±2.23, 57.91±2.51 and 47.05± 2.09 g/bird/day respectively and differed significantly (P<0.01), T1 and T2 birds consumed significantly less feed for each kg body weight gain (6.959 and 7.048 kg respectively) than those by T3 (7.958 kg) birds.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    INVESTIGATIONS ON EFFICIENCY OF GROWTH, GONADAL DEVELOPMENT AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOURAL PATTERNS IN RELATION TO ONSET OF PUBERTY IN F1 AND INTER SE MATED JERSEY x KANKREJ MALE CALVES
    (AAU, Anand, 1992) Singh, Laishram Sharat Kumar; Patel, J. M.
    Post-weaning growth performance, efficiency of gain, gonadal development and sequential development of sexual behavioural components were studied under standard feeding and management in 4 Jersey x Kankrej halfbreds (JKF1) and 6 Jersey x Kankrej inter se mated (JK inter se) male calves from 17 weeks through 67 weeks of age at Livestock Research Station, Anand. The factor or traits studied to characterise puberty in these crossbreds included age, body weight, testicular size, histological changes of testes, sexual behaviour, age of complete penile release and age of first semen donation. Certain biochemicals and hormones related to reduction were assessed to ascertain puberty and sexual maturity obtained from the above mentioned events. The histological development of testis was studied in another 40 JK crossbreds by collecting testes at different ages from birth to 16 months.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Growth Feed Efficiency and Economics Under Intensive Production System of Pre-weaned Lambs and Kids Supplemented With Non-conventional Creep Mixtures
    (AAU, Anand, 1999) Shah, Shaileshkumar Vipinchandra; Patel, Ashok M.
    On any livestock farm, feeding accounts for more than 2/3rd of the total expenditure. A little saving in this cost can increase the profit significantly. Keeping this in mind, the present study was conducted with the following objectives : The present experiment was conducted in three different phases. The first phase experiment was initiated with 17 pre-weaner lambs and 13 kids of around one month of age and was lasted for 112 days. The second phase was conducted on 18 weaner kids by feeding them complete feed in group and it lasted for six weeks. The third phase was also conducted on weaner kids (18) under individual feeding regime and it lasted for five weeks. In all the three phases, conventional feed was compared with the nonconventional feeds. The body v/eights of the lambs at the beginning and at the end of experiment period of 112 days (actual average age 142 days) in the three treatment groups were 6.57 + 1.22 and 16.42 ± 2.08 (T1. Conventional control, CC), 6.55 ± 0.76 and 21.52 ± 1.58 (T2: Non-conventional-I, NC-1) and 6.55 + 0.59 and 17.76 ± 0.85 kg (T3: Nonconventional- II, NC-2), respectively indicating an average growth of 87.90 ± 7.10, 133.53 + 7,33 and 100.04 + 5.90 g/day in the three treatments, respectively. The differences among the treatments both, at the beginning and at the end of the experiment were statistically non-significant for the body weight whereas the growth rate was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in T2. The body weights of pre-weaned kids (Phase I) at the beginning of the experimental period were 4.28 ± 0.34 kg for T1 (Conventional Control - CC) and 4.98 ± 0.40 kg for T2 (Non-conventional-1 - NC-1). The same at the end of the experiment of eight bi-weekly intervals increased to 9.26 ± 0.49 and 9.90 ± 0.47 kg, respectively with an average growth rate of 44.34 ± 3.49 and 43.94 ± 3.29 g/day for the two treatments. The differences both at the beginning and at the end of the experimental period, however, were statistically at par. The body weights of weaner kids (Phase II) increased to 11.202 ± 0.27 (Conventional Control - CC), 11.082 ± 0.53 (Non-conventional-1 - NC-1) and 11.382 ± 0.26 kg (Non-conventional-2 - NC-2) from 10.367 ± 0.26, 10.488 ± 0.43 and 10.183 ± 0.31 kg in T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively and were at par. A linear increasing trend was observed in the body weight of kids throughout the experimental period in all the treatments. The growth rate of weaner kids (Phase II) fed non-conventional complete feed-2 (28.53 t 5.63) wa.s significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that observed in the control (19.88 ±1.11 g-May) or the non-conventional-1 kids (14.15 ± 6.01 g/day). The average body weight at the beginning of the experiment of weaner kids in Phase m was 10.82 + 0.41, 10.80 + 0.73 and 10.85 ± 0.44 kg for T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively. The same increased to 13.30 + 0.72, 13.68 ± 0.89 and 13.12 ± 0.68 kg. respectively. The growth rate (g/day) of kids in Phase HI was higher in T3 (77.14 ± 9.93) followed by Tl (68.90 ± 8.57) and T2 (63.28 + 10.41). The differences among the treatments, were at par. The increase in body length, heart girth and height at withers of the lambs was observed to be 13.66 + 2.00, 20.09 ± 1.47 and 16.00 ± 1.91 cm, 10.26 ± 0.71, 10.92 + 0.89 and 11.45 ± 1.06 cm and 18.03 + 1.82, 20.39 ± 0.58 and 19.69 ± 1.47 cm for the three treatment groups, respectively. The differences among the treatments were nonsignificant The increase in body length, heart girth and height at withers of the experimental kids (Phase I) was observed to be 9.01 ± 1.70 and 7.32 ± 1.00 cm, 9.96 ± 1.34 and 9.32 ± 0.63 cm and 6.88 ± 1.04 and 6.35 ± 0.66 cm, respectively for the two treatment groups, respectively. The differences among the treatments were statistically non-significant. The DM intake by lambs of Phase I was 491.55 ± 17.26, 526.46 ± 2.87 and 488.64 ± 7.37g/day; 58.70 ± 3.55; 49.81 ± 1.00 and 53.47 ± 1.46 g/kgW0.75 and 2.90 ± 0.26; 2.26 ± O06 and 2.55 ± 0G8 kg/100 kg bodj' weight for Tl, T2 and T3 treatments, respectively. The DM intake in all the three forms for all the treatments was statistically similar. The digestibility of all the proximate nutrients was higher for the conventional group as compared to the non-conventional treatments. The mean balance of nitrogen of the lambs fed conventional, non-conventional-1 and non-conventional-2 creep mixtures was found to be 4.73 ± 0.16, 4.62 ± 0.06 and 3.64 ± 0.11 g/lamb/day, respectively. The nitrogen balance of T3 was observed to be the lowest (P < 0 05) as compared to those observed for the CC and NC-1.