EFFECT OF PRE AND POST PARTUM FEEDING OF AZOLLA PINNATA AND FLAXSEED ON PERFORMANCE OF CROSSBRED DOES AND THEIR KIDS
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Date
2021
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Publisher
ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL
Abstract
The present study was conducted at Livestock Research Centre of ICAR-National
Dairy Research Institute (N.D.R.I.), Karnal, Haryana, India. It has been
established in earlier that transition period in livestock influences the production,
health and future productivity of a dam. It also influences the performance of their
young ones. Therefore, management of the transition period is cardinal to the
performance of a herd/flock. The objective of this study was to evaluate effect of
pre- and post-partum feeding of Azolla and flaxseed on the immunity and
production performance of does and their kids. Twenty-four pregnant Alpine x
Beetal does (ages between 2-4 years) were divided into four homogenous groups,
six in each. Four diets were offered: Basal diet of 60:40 fodder and concentrate
offered as control without any replacement group (C); in second group (T1) 10%
concentrate was replaced with azolla; third group (T2) 10% concentrate was
replaced with flaxseed; and fourth group (T3) 5% and 5% of the concentrate was
replaced by azolla and flaxseed respectively. There was significant (P<0.05) lower
in dry matter intake in T1 as compared to the other groups, though it showed
significantly (P<0.05) higher digestibility in dry matter (DM) than control (C) and
organic matter (OM) digestibility was also higher as compared to the other groups.
DCP/DMI was improved (P<0.05) by 8.04% in T1; 19.31% in T2; and 16.71% in
T3. Digestion of EE was significantly (P<0.05) improved replacing of 10%
concentrate with flaxseed; DEE was also improved (P<0.05) in T2 and T3. DCF
was significantly (P<0.05) improved in T2; Digestibility of ADF was significantly
(P<0.05) improved in T3; and TDN of the feed was significantly (P<0.05) improved
T2 and T3. Milk yield was higher (P<0.05) in T2 by 18.9% than control, while T1
presented higher (P<0.05) lactose than T3. Average daily gain of kids was
significantly (P<0.05) improved kids born from T2 and T3 does. Kids born from
does in T3 showed higher (P<0.05) level of IgG-1 and SOD than control (C).
Economically, all the treatments had a higher cost benefit ratio with T1 being the
highest and cheapest. Overall, immunity and production performance of does and
their kids can be improved by replacing 10% concentrate feed with flaxseed to
improved digestion of ADF, DCP/DMI, DEE and TDN in feed of does; and
improved ADG of their kids.