Managemental Response of Different Housing and Feeding Systems on Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCE), Physiological Reactions and Blood Parameters in Murrah Buffalo Heifers

Description

Page: 240-244

Ashwani Kumar Saini and Ram Singh (Department of Livestock Prod. and Management, College of Anim. Sc. CCS, HAU, Hisar, Haryana)

To evaluate the effect between hay versus green fodder and loose versus barn house on feed conversion efficiency, physiological reaction and blood parameters; 20 Murrah Buffalo heifers of nearness to their equal body weight (BW) and age were divided into 4 groups of 5 heifers each, and they were allotted to four treatments; T1: conventional barn housing+ hay and concentrate mixture (CM); T2: conventional barn housing+ seasonal green fodder and CM; T3: loose housing+ seasonal green fodder and CM; and T4: loose housing+ hay and CM. The interaction between two housing and feeding systems was also observed. There was no significant difference in DMI, CPI and TDNI per kg BWG among various treatments (T1 to T4); and between housing and nutritional systems. The morning per-rectum temperature in T1 and T4 was higher (p<0.05) than those of T2 and T3. The evening rectal temperature in T4 was higher than those of T1 and T2. The evening rectal temperature in loose housing was higher (p<0.05) than in the conventional barn. The morning rectal temperature due to hay feeding was higher (p<0.05 ) than of the green fodder feeding treatment group. The glucose level in T3 was more (p<0.05) than that of T1. It was concluded that the feed conversion efficiency remained uninfluenced due to animal rearing systems. The morning per-rectum temperature was higher (p<0.05 ) in hay as compared to green fodder feeding system and the evening per-rectum temperature was higher (p<0.05) in loose as compared to conventional barn housing. Loose housing along with green fodder and concentrate feeding resulted in higher glucose level as compared to conventional barn along with hay and concentrate mixture feeding.