EFFECT OF FEEDING SYSTEM AND FLOOR TYPES ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF MALABARI KIDS
Loading...
Date
2017-12-30
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR
Abstract
The study was performed to evaluate the socio economic profile of goat farmers,
production system, the effect of different feeding system and floor types on growth
performance of Malabari kids in central Kerala. The average age of farmers was 52.82±1.98.
Majority of them had less than 25 cents of land holding. Wooden raised and slatted floor was
common type of flooring material seen in goat houses. None of them reared goats on an all
concentrate ration. The farm study was conducted at University goat and sheep farm,
Mannuthy. Fifty four newborn kids were allotted to three floors viz. concrete wooden and
PVC slatted floors with each of the three types of feeds - an all concentrate ration, TMR and
concentrate with grass based ration. The temperature on PVC slatted floor was higher
(P<0.05). The floor temperature of the PVC floor was higher (P<0.05) during morning and
evening.
The body weight at six months varied from 10.98±1.41 kg to 14.82±0.47. The
type of feed had a significant (P<0.05) effect on body weight at six months ie., the ‘all
concentrate ration’ fed animals gained more. The overall mean of body height ranged from
48.45±2.27 to 55.48±0.64cm. The mean of chest girth ranged from 48.80±0.04 to
54.35±0.01cm. Animals reared on all concentrate ration and those fed TMR diet had a
significantly (P<0.05) higher chest girth. The body length was in the range of 44.83±1.69 cm
to 47.08±0.43 cm.
The post weaning mean daily weight gain was in the range from 49.48±7.85 to
71.98±12.1g with higher (P<0.05) weight gain (P<0.05) for animals fed ‘an all concentrate
ration’ (65.61±1.38g). The mean dry matter consumption ranged from 352.81±14.97 to
292.71±12.49g. The overall feed efficiency ranged between 3.60±0.15 to 5.88±0.69. Animals
fed on concentrate and TMR diet had better feed efficiency (P<0.05).
Mean respiration and pulse rate did not show any difference while the mean rectal
temperature was higher (P<0.05) for goats reared on PVC slatted floor (103.63±0.07).
The mean haemoglobin ranged from 6.61±0.19 to 7.57±0.24g/dl. Overall average
haemoglobin of TMR kids was significantly higher (P<0.05). The PCV ranged from
26.83±1.63 to 33.35±1.83 per cent. The TMR fed kids and concentrate with grass fed kids
had higher (P<0.05) overall average PCV level. The mean WBC count did not show any
significance between groups during the experiment. The mean total proteins varied from
5.50±0.10 to 6.31±0.29g/dl. The serum albumin ranged from 3.61±0.09 to 4.13±0.09 g/dl. The
serum globulin ranged from 1.76±0.15 to 2.50±0.16g/dl. The all concentrate fed kids had the
highest total protein, albumin and globulin in serum.
The serum calcium, phosphorus and cortisol ranged from 11.03±0.37 to
12.37±0.29 mg/dl, 9.63±1.00 to 11.25±0.73 mg/dl and 14.45±2.07 to 19.42±1.71ng/ml
respectively.
The mean dressing percentage at six months of age varied from 40.51±2.31 to
46.021±1.45. The rumen pH ranged from 5.35±0.15 to 6.35±0.05. The cooking loss values
varied from 23.18±2.02 to 29.89±1.60 per cent.
The incidence of digestive disorders, foot and skin lesions were more in concrete floor
reared kids. The recorded respiratory disorders were in wooden floor was 42.53 per cent and
PVC type of floor was 41.38 per cent. Eye lesions (75.00 per cent), ectoparasitic infestations
(46.67 per cent) and urinary calculi (66.67 per cent) were noticed in wooden floor.
The highest net income and benefit cost ratio was observed in animals reared on PVC
floor and fed concentrate ration. While in concrete and wooden floor, the benefit cost ratio
was better in animals reared on TMR.
Description
Thesis Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Livestock Production Management