Studies on behaviour and performance of murrah she-buffaloes under cold stress ameliorating measures at organized farm in tarai region
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Date
2006-10
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
The present investigation was conducted in two parts viz. studying the performance of Murrah she-buffaloes at IDF, Nagla over the years and conducting an experiment on 25 normally calved Murrah she-buffaloes to study the effect of cold stress ameliorating measures on their physiological, performance and behavioural responses during winter. The animals were divided into four groups viz. T1 - provided with paddy straw bedding and gunny bag jacketing T2- provided with luke warm water, T3- provided with provided with paddy straw bedding, gunny bag jacketing and luke warm water and T4 –control.
LL was found to be significantly (P<0.05) more during the period 2 and 3 where as, LMY was significantly higher in buffaloes who calved during November-January and during period 2 and 4. Maximum 305-dMY was found in November and December calvers as well as in the period 2 and 4. AMY was significantly (P<0.05) higher in buffaloes calving during 2 peaks (November-February and June- August months) and period 4. PMY was significantly (P< 0.01) higher during 2nd lactation, February, June, November and December calvers as well as period 4. However, significant variation on DAPY due to any effect could not be ascertained.
Morning and evening RR were significantly (P<0.01) different among groups. Morning RT and evening ST were significantly different among groups. Both morning and evening MD were significantly different among groups. Both morning and evening CC also varied significantly among groups. Buffaloes consumed significantly (P<0.01) more warm water than water at ambient temperature in morning. Morning, evening and daily milk yield were significantly (P<0.05) higher in warm water treatment groups. Milk pH and fat per cent were significantly (P<0.05) differ among groups.
Frequency (%) of behavioural traits viz no raising head were significantly (P<0.01) and no ears pointing and stood up were significantly (P<0.05) different among groups. Urination while standing, total urination, no urination, defecation while standing, total defecation, no defecation, tail wagging and no tail wagging were significantly (P<0.05) different among groups. Overall mastication, mastication while sitting at left side and continuation of mastication were significantly (P<0.05) different among groups. It is concluded that cold stress amelioration during winter is important to improve the performance and well being of buffaloes.
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