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Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level. Genesis of AAU - The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati. Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.

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Subject: Livestock Production and Management × Author: Dutta, Chinmoy × Start date: 2016 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of polyherbal feed supplementation on performances of Assam Hill goat
    (College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus, 2023) Dutta, Chinmoy; Bordoloi, Jyoti Prasad
    The experiment was conducted for a period of nine months and a digestion trial thereafter to study the effect of feeding a polyherbal feed supplement constituted of Shatavari, Fenugreek and Ajwain mixed in 1:1:1 ratio on different performances of Assam Hill goat. Thirty six healthy weaned kids (eighteen male and eighteen female) of similar age and bodyweight were allocated to three experimental groups, control (C0), treatment-1 (T1) and treatment-2 (T2) with twelve animals in each group(six male and six female). Kids of all the three groups were fed with a standard basal diet consisted of concentrate and green fodder with supplementation of the polyherbal feed supplement@1gm and 2 gm per kg body weight daily in the treatment-1 (T1) and treatment-2 (T2) groups respectively. The average body weight at 19th fortnight i.e., at 12months of age were 13.84± 0.032, 14.47±0.021 and 16.24±0.040 kg control and the two treatment groups(T1 and T2) respectively. The overall body weight (kg) of two treatment groups were significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of control group. In respect of sex, the male animals attained higher bodyweight than that of female animals at all the stages of experiment. The average fortnightly body weight gain during the experimental were 0.476 ± 0.006, 0.510 ± 0.005 and 0.603 ± 0.006 kg for control and the two treatment groups respectively and revealed significant (p<0.01) difference from the fourth fortnight and showing significant differences between the treatment groups, between the fortnights and between both the sexes. The male goats gained more overall body weight i.e., 0.556 ± 0.005kg over the female goats i.e., 0.503 ± 0.007 kg throughout the experiment. The initial mean values of fortnightly measurement (cm) of body conformation (body length, height at wither, chest girth, neck girth, tail length, length of head, breadth of head, horn length and ear length) of Assam Hill kids in control (C0), treatment-1 (T1) and treatment-2 (T2) groups were similar and non-significant .However, at the end of experiment, significant differences (p<0.01) among control and two treatment groups were observed for body length, height at wither and chest girth. Other measurements, neck girth, tail length, length of head, breadth of head, horn length and ear length were apparently higher in the treatment groups. Sex wise, the male goats had better body conformation than female animals. The overall mean values of respiration rate in Assam Hill goats were 19.68 ± 0.473, 19.56 ± 0.279 and 19.68 ± 0.229 breaths/min in control (T0), treatment-1 (T1) and treatment-2 (T2) respectively The average mean values of pulse rate of Assam hill goat fed with polyherbal supplementation during the studies were 78.56 ± 0.750, 78.50 ± 1.047 and 78.40 ± 0.786 beats/min for control and the two treatment groups respectively. The overall mean values of rectal temperature of the goats were 102.38 ± 0.161, 102.4 ± 0.176 and 102.32 ± 0.170 ºF for control and treatment groups respectively. There were no significant (P>0.01) differences in pulse rate, respiration rate and temperature among the three groups and sex wise between male and female animals. The average values of BCS of the male goats at puberty were 2.70 ± 0.032, 2.94± 0.054 and 3.05 ± 0.074 as well as at maturity were 2.72 ± 0.028, 3.01± 0.076 and 3.15± 0.059 in control (C0), treatment-1 (T1) and treatment-2 (T2) respectively. In respect of female goat, the overall mean values of BCS puberty were 2.66± 0.029, 2.86± 0.037and 2.91± 0.050 and at maturity the BCS were 2.68 ± 0.029, 2.9 ± 0.047 and 2.94 ± 0.056 for animals in Co, T1 and T2 respectively. The results showed significant (P<0.01) difference in BCS at puberty and maturity both in male and female among the ii three experimental groups. Again, the BCS were found better at maturity than that of puberty in both male and female goats. The average haemoglobin were 7.36 ± 0.05, 7.44 ± 0.057 and 7.52 ± 0.051 g/dl in control and two treatment groups respectively as well as 7.56 ± 0.053 and 7.37 ± 0.052 g/dl.in male and female respectively. All the values were within the normal ranges and showed no significance differences (P>0.01) among the treatment groups and the sexes. The average blood glucose concentration in different groups during different quaternary varied from 69.94 ± 0.864 to 73.73 ± 0.430, 69.86 ± 0.884 to 74.67 ± 0.667 and 69.38 ± 0.824 to 74.63 ± 0.597 mg/dl with overall values as 71.78 ± 0.623, 72.27 ± 0.926 and 72.01 ± 0.649 mg/dl in control, treatment-1 (T1) and treatment-2 (T2) groups respectively. Results showed no significant difference (P>0.01) between control and treatment groups. The mean total plasma protein was found to be 7.37 ± 0.049, 7.46 ± 0.052 and 7.52 ± 0.038 gm/dl of blood for control, treatment-1 (T1) and treatment-2 (T2) groups, respectively. Sex wise , the overall mean total blood plasma protein for male and female were 7.51 ± 0.062 and 7.39 ± 0.047 gm/dl found no significant differences(P>0.01) among the treatment groups and sexes on overall as well as at any stage of the experiment till the end. However, the respective values improved within the normal range. The average growth hormone (ng/ml) levels of the experimental goats were 2.94 ± 0.097, 3.02 ± 0.010 and 3.07 ± 0.012 in control, treatment-1 (T1) and treatment-2 (T2) groups respectively. Similarly, the overall mean growth hormone (ng/ml) concentration in male and female were 2.99 ± 0.068 and 2.97 ± 0.011 ng/ml. The level of growth hormone (ng/ml) increased among the treatment groups and the sexes numerically but was not significant statistically. The mean estrogen level (pg/ml) at 1st estrous were found to be 14.235± 0.015, 15.288± 0.018 and 15.548± 0.012 for control, treatment-1 (T1) and treatment-2 (T2) groups respectively. Similarly at 5th estrous when the goats attained 60% to 70% of their adult body weight, the mean estrogen level (pg/ml) were found to be 22.667± 0.012, 22.867± 0.016 and 23.242±0.013 for control and two treatment groups respectively. Results revealed significant differences (P<0.01) among the treatment groups during each estrous till 5th estrous. The mean blood testosterone hormone level (ng/ml) at 11th month were found to be 2.710± 0.176, 3.008± 0.136 and 3.107± 0.179 and at 12th month 2.777± 0.175, 3.222± 0.108 and 3.425± 0.187 for control and treatment groups respectively. The testosterone level was significantly higher (P<0.01) in among the treatment-1 (T1) and treatment-2 (T2) groups. The mean average age (days) at first heat were 199.833 ± 3.842, 183.333 ± 2.985 and 183.167 ± 4.110 for Assam Hill goats in control, treatment-1 (T1) and treatment-2 (T2) groups respectively. The corresponding age at fifth heat were 283.845 ± 3.842, 267.287 ± 2.982 and 267.062 ± 4.179 respectively. The duration (hr) of first heat were 26.087 ± 0.582, 28.562 ± 0.970 and 28.627 ± 1.219 as well as for fifth heat duration (hr) were 26.955 ± 0.436, 32.317 ± 1.318 and 34.197 ± 1.010 for goats in control and the two treatment groups respectively. The age at first heat were significantly earlier iii (P<0.01) in treatment groups compared to control group. The duration of heat revealed marked variations and was significantly high (P>0.01) in fifth heat. Routine examination of semen samples revealed the mean values of volume, colour, mass activity, individual motility, normal sperm, live sperm and dead sperm (%) at 11th month and 12th month which showed significant differences (P<0.01) among the control and the two treatment groups. The semen volume (0.627 ± 0.008 ml) and percentage of live sperm (85.355 ± 0.895%) were highest in T2 group at 12th month of age. The overall semen qualities were found better in treatment groups. The buck of the treatment groups could had been used for mating or even for collection of semen from 11th month onwards instead of 12th months as level of testosterone hormone (ng/ml) and over all semen quality were well within the optimum range and body condition score was found suitable. The average digestibility of the different organic nutrients in Co, T1 and T2, respectively were as : DM (%), 59.526 ± 0.051, 61.069 ± 0.058 and 61.512 ± 0.058; CP (%), 72.027 ± 0.044 , 74.451 ± 0.032 and 75.015 ± 0.042; EE (%), 67.727 ± 0.012 , 68.155 ± 0.020 and 68.364 ± 0.033 ; CF (%), 54.348 ± 0.054, 58.474 ± 0.033 and 59.201 ± 0.017; NFE (%), 67.026 ± 0.039 , 67.507 ± 0.021 and 67.785 ± 0.035 ; OM (%), 64.793 ± 0.041 , 65.977 ± 0.050 and 66.416 ± 0.051 . Digestibility remained higher in both the treatment groups than control and improved significantly (P<0.01). The average cost of concentrate mixture alone and with addition of the polyherbal supplement @ 1gm and 2gm per kg body weight were (Rs.) 1056.13 in control group, 1532.84 in the T1 and 2168.64 in the T2 group. The higher feed costs in treatment groups were found due to the higher price of the polyherbal supplement costing Rs. 170/Kg. However, the mean body weight gain (kg) was 9.38, 9.63 and 10.54 in Co, T1 and T2, respectively. The findings of the experiment, though cost of feeding is slightly higher in the supplemented groups, those goats indicated better growth and reproduction performances was expected to perform superior yielding higher lifetime return.