ASSESSMENT OF MULTI-NUTRIENT BLOCK SUPPLEMENTATION AND RUBBER MAT ON THE PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF DAIRY ANIMALS UNDER FIELD CONDITION
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Date
2022
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Publisher
ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL
Abstract
The present study was carried out in Yamunanagar district of Haryana and Sirmaur
district of Himachal Pradesh to assess the effect of multi-nutrient block (MNB)
supplementation and rubber mat bedding on the milk production, milk quality,
reproduction, health and welfare of dairy animals. Thirty eight lactating crossbred cattle
and 38 lactating buffaloes were selected for first objective (12 from Pinjori, 12 from
Malimajra and 14 from Patlion) whereas, for second objective, 24 crossbred cattle and 24
buffaloes (12 from Pinjori and 12 from Malimajra) were selected. The animals were
divided into two groups as: control (T0) and treatment (T1) based on milk yield, body
weight and parity of animals. In study area, majority of dairy farmers were marginal and
small farmers with less than two hectares of land. The average herd size was in the range
of 4 to 6.8. Result shows that MNB supplementation to post-partum dairy animals
significantly (P<0.05) increased dry matter intake (T0: 12.46±0.03; T1: 12.73±0.04
kg/h/d), average daily milk yield (T0: 11.13±1.35; T1: 12.47±1.89 kg/ h/d), fat percent
(T0: 4.12±0.14; T1: 4.31±0.14) and SNF percent (T0: 8.60±0.03; T1: 8.70±0.02) in
crossbred cattle, whereas, milk yield (T0: 9.67±1.19; T1: 10.81±0.99 kg/h/d) and fat
percent (T0: 7.49±0.05; T1: 7.59±0.09) in buffaloes in the study area. Supplementation of
MNB was significantly (P<0.05) reduce the days of first post partum estrus (T0:
94.76±1.46; T1: 74.22±3.62 days), service period (T0: 128.37±2.16; T1: 103.85±6.05
days), and number of service per successful conception (T0: 2.24±0.06; T1: 1.35±0.07) in
crossbred cattle. Significant (P<0.05) reduction in service period (T0: 150.20±9.31; T1:
115.83±7.34 days) and number of service per successful conception (T0: 2.42±0.08; T1:
1.58±0.09) was recorded in buffaloes. The MNB supplementation significantly (P<0.05)
increased blood urea (mg/dl) in crossbred cattle (T0: 10.86 ±0.06; T1: 12.82±0.03) and
buffaloes (T0: 10.93 ±0.34; T1: 13.21±0.18). Non-significant (P>0.05) effect of MNB on
reducing subclinical mastitis incidences (CMT and somatic cell count), body weight
(kg), average DMI (percent body weight and total DMI) and hematological parameters
were observed in crossbred cattle and buffaloes. Significant (P<0.05) increase in cow
cleanliness score was observed due to rubber mat bedding in crossbred cattle (T0:
2.54±0.01; T1: 3.22±0.042) and buffaloes (T0: 2.59±0.02; T1: 3.14±0.01). Rubber mat
bedding also significantly reduces the incidence of hock and knee injury in treatment
group of crossbred cattle (T0: 2.19±0.16; T1: 1.52±0.06) and buffaloes (T0: 2.13±0.09;
T1: 1.50±0.03). Similarly less subclinical mastitis incidences were recorded in treatment
group of crossbred cattle and buffaloes as compared to control group. Rubber mat
bedding had non-significant (P>0.05) effect on milk yield, milk fat, SNF, milk protein,
body weight, BCS, reproductive performance and hematological parameters of crossbred
cattle and buffaloes. It can be conclude that MNB supplementation improved the
productive and reproductive performance of dairy animals and rubber mat bedding had
improved the quality of milk and welfare of dairy animals.