COMPARATIVE DRAUGHT CAPACITY OF CATTLE AND BUFFALOES
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Date
1994
Authors
ANIL, ks
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCE,MANNUTHY
Abstract
The draught performance of Kangayam bullocks were
compared with that of graded Surti buffaloe bullocks, under
the agro-climatic conditions of Kerala, with a hot-humid
tropical climate.
Two pairs of adult Kangayam bullocks and two pairs of
adult graded Surti buffaloe bullocks were used for ploughing
both dry land and wet land at the rate of four hours a day
during the summer season. Physiological responses like
respiratory rate, pulse rate and rectal temperature and
haemotological parameters like haemoglobin per cent,
erythrocyte sedimentation rate, packed cell volume, lactic
acid and plasma bicarbonate were estimated before work,
immediately after work and after one hour of rest after work.
The dry matter intake and water intake on days of work and on
days of no work were also measured and compared. Other
parameters like the area ploughed in one hour, average speed
of walking, stride length and traction force developed during
ploughing were also compared between the two species.
The buffaloe bullocks had significantly lower
physiological responses before the start of work, when
compared to that of indigenous bullocks. As a result of work
the physiological responses increased significantly in both
species. The values were higher for buffaloes during dry
ploughing. The physiological responses including rectal
temperature of buffaloes increased to a level indicative of
distress due to heat stress. There were also other signs of
distress like frothing and drooling of saliva and protrusion
of tongue. But during wet ploughing the responses were not
so marked in case of buffaloes and they did not show any
apparent signs of distress. The physiological responses
decreased but did not reach the pre-exercise values after one
hour of rest.
The haemoglobin per cent of blood, packed cell volume
and plasma bicarbonate content decreased significantly in
cattle and buffaloes, during dry and wet ploughing. The
erythrocyte sedimentation rate and blood lactic acid content
shov;ed a significant increase as a result of work. One hour
of rest was not sufficient to bring these parameters to preexercise
values.
Buffaloes consumed more DM when expressed in grams per
kg metabolic body size. Both species consumed more on days of
no work. The difference was more pronounced in case of
buffaloes.
The water intake expressed as ml/kg metabolic body
\
size was significantly higher for buffaloes, both on days of
work and on days of no work. In both the species, the water
intake remained similar in days on which they were used for
work and they were not used.
Kangayam bullocks ploughed significantly more area per
unit time than graded Surti buffaloe bullock. Cattle
developed significantly more speed than buffaloes during dry
ploughing. But during wet ploughing the speed was almost same
in both species. Cattle showed more stride length during dry
and wet ploughings than buffaloes. But during wet ploughing
the difference was negligible.
There was no significant difference in the traction
pov/er developed between cattle and buffaloes during dry or wet
ploughings. But both species developed higher horse power
during wet ploughing.
Overall, the results indicate that during summer in a
hot-humid tropical environment, Kangayam bullocks can be used
for dry as well as wet ploughings without any apparent ill
effects. Graded Surti buffaloe bullocks are on par with
Kangayam bullocks under wet-ploughing. However, they seem to
be under severe heat-stress and also their work output
inferior when used for a continuous 4-hour period of dry-land
ploughing under similair climatic conditions.
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