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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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20121
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Subject: Livestock Production and Management × Author: Kalita, Girin × End date: 2017 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    PERFORMANCE OF T&D PIGS UNDER DIFFERENT WEANING MANAGEMENT
    (Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, 2012-07) Kalita, Girin; Roychoudhury, R.
    Study was conducted at All India Coordinated Research Project on Pig (Mega Seed Project), College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati-781022, Assam, to compare the effect of early weaning management at 28, 35 and 42 days on the performance of T&D (Tamworth x Desi) sows and their piglets with normal weaning practice at 56 days. Twenty sows of 2nd and 3rd parity along with their piglets were divided to four groups (T1- 28 days weaning, T2- 35 days weaning, T3- 42 days weaning and T4- 56 days weaning) in a manner that each group was represented by similar litter size at birth and of similar parity sows. After weaning at respective age, piglets of each litter were reared together till 13 weeks of age. Pre-starter and Starter ration incorporating skim milk powder and table sugar were offered for ad libitum consumption to the piglets of T1, T2 and T3, during week 2 and 3 and during week 4, 5 and 6 of age respectively. Similar rations without skim milk powder and table sugar were offered in ad libitum to the piglets of T4 of same age groups. Grower I and Grower II rations were fed to appetite to the piglets from 7 to 11 and 12 to 13 weeks of age respectively for all the weaning groups. Interval from weaning to estrus (WEI) was recorded and all the sows were bred in the 1st post weaning estrus. At the end of 13 weeks, six castrated male pigs of average body weight from each weaning group were selected and reared up to 34 weeks of age to study the effect of weaning management on performance of growing finishing pigs along with their carcass characteristics. The litter size at birth, at weaning and at 13th week were not affected by the weaning management, whereas litter weight at 13th week were significantly (P<0.05) higher in 28 days followed by 35, 42 and 56 days weaning. Piglets weaned at an early age had significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight (24.73 ± 0.58 kg in 28 days and 24.00 ± 0.87 kg in 35 days weaning group) than the lately weaned piglets (20.74 ± 0.75 kg in 42 days and 19.26 ± 0.78 kg in 56 days weaning group) at the end of 13 weeks of age. Significant (P<0.05) effect of weaning management was observed on average daily gain (ADG in gram) of piglets from birth to 13 weeks of age, with highest ADG in 28 days (259.27 ± 6.20) followed by 35 days (251.39 ± 9.43), 42 days (215.50 ± 8.13) and 56 days (199.17 ± 8.55) weaning group. Feed conversion efficiencies (FCE) of piglets from weaning to 13 weeks of age were significantly (p<0.5) better in 28 days weaning (2.45 ± 0.08) compared to 35 days (2.74 ± 0.08), 42 days (3.05 ± 0.07) and 56 days (3.00 ± 0.15) weaning group. Average daily feed intakes (g) of piglets from birth to 13 weeks of age were significantly (P<0.05) higher in early weaned piglets (513.52 ± 16.79 in 28 days and 510.53 ± 9.29 in 35 days weaning group) compared to late weaned piglets (435.36 ± 21.28 in 42 days and 359.29 ± 33.79 in 56 days weaning group). Maximum mortality rates were observed in late weaned piglets (12.77% in 56 days and 11.36% in 42 days weaning group) as compared to early weaned counterparts (4.26% in 28 days and 2.27% in 35 days weaning group). Gastroenteritis (57.14%) was the main cause of mortality, followed by Pneumonia + Gastroenteritis (14.29%), Physical injury (7.14%) and Hepatitis (7.14%). Other causes like abscess, inanition, respiratory problem etc. accounted for 14.29% of the total deaths. Average daily feed intake (kg) by sow during lactation were 3.75 ± 0.10, 3.90 ± 0.10, 3.97 ±0.17 and 4.14 ± 0.42 in 28, 35, 42 and 56 days weaning group respectively and statistical analysis revealed non-significant (P<0.05) differences among the different weaning groups. Body weight loss (kg) of sow during lactation was significantly 15 (P<0.05) higher for the in 56 days (34.20 ± 1.66) weaning group, followed by 42 days (27.80 ± 0.97), 35 days (23.80 ± 1.07), and 28 days weaning (20.20 ± 1.39) group. Nonsignificant (p<0.05) effect of weaning management was observed in weaning to estrus intervals (WEI) among the different weaning groups. Subsequent litter traits were better in early weaned sows (28 and 35 days) compared to lately weaned sows (42 and 56 days) when bred in the first post weaning estrus. It was observed that, lactational body weight loss of sow was negatively correlated with subsequent litter size (r=-0.957) and positively correlated with weaning to estrus interval (r=0.990). Body weights (kg) of finisher at the end of 34 weeks was significantly higher in 28 days (105.00 ± 2.93) weaning group, followed by 35 days (99.33 ± 2.49), 42 days (95.50 ± 2.68) and 56 days (91.50 ± 3.57) weaning group and no differences were observed in FCE and ADG in growing finishing pigs from 14 to 34 weeks among the different weaning groups. Apart from back fat thickness and carcass weights, weaning management at 28, 35, 42 and 56 days didn’t have much effect on carcass characteristics, pigs weaned early (28 and 35 days) have higher carcass weights with more back fat thickness compared to lately weaned pigs (42 and 56 days). Economic analysis revealed that weaning management at 28 days was more economical compared to weaning management at 35, 42 or 56 days. It may be concluded from the study that weaning management at 28 days of age with quality diet for piglets was advantageous as compared to weaning management at 35 and 42 days or traditional weaning management at 56 days of age.