IAHRW International Journal of Social Sciences Review

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Effect on Feeding Behaviour Under Different Housing and Feeding Systems in Murrah Heifers


Affiliations
1 CIRB, SUB-Campus, Nabha, Punjab, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


The objective of this study was to analyze the differences in behavior between groups of buffalo heifers reared in loose vrs. barn housing systems and fed on green and hay fodder during the autumn and hot season, to supplement the information for guidance of farmers on how to better manage their animals, increase thermal comfort and improve the feed conversion efficiency with efficient feed utilization. Twenty female buffalo heifers of about 12-15 month sage were selected from the buffalo herd under Buffalo Research Centre, Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Animal Sciences, CCS Haryana Agricultural University (LUVAS), Hisar. The animals were divided into four groups of 5 each based upon their average body weight and age. The experiment was installed for a period of 120 days (February 1 to May 31) to compare the effect of two housing and two feeding systems which were comprised of 4 treatment groups viz.: T1: Conventional barn + Hay and Concentrate mixture, T2: Conventional barn + Seasonal green fodder and Concentrate mixture,T3: Loose housing + Seasonal green fodder & Concentrate mixture, T4: Loose housing + Hay and Concentrate mixture.Ingestion, rumination and resting time in day and total time was significantly (P<0.05) effected between the housing systems. Total ingestion and total resting time was significantly (P<0.05) different between the feeding systems, whereas the Night resting time varied significantly (P<0.05) between both the housing and feeding systems. It concludes that when buffalo heifers have access to Loose housing on HAYfeeding in a Semi-intensive system under the climatic conditions of Hisar as they eat and ruminate more intensely than animals reared in Closed barn system fed with Green fodder. Thus, heifers prefer loose houseswhich is recommended for the animals to shelter them from direct solar radiation to ensure animal comfort, improved feed utilization and better feed conversion efficiency.

Keywords

Behaviour, Feeding, Hay, Fodder, Housing, Murrah, Heifer.
User
Subscription Login to verify subscription
Notifications
Font Size

  • Antil, I.S. (1988). Influence of special summer manage mental practices on growth, feed and water consumption and behavior of growing buffaloes, kept in loose house. M.Sc. Thesis, Deptt. of LPM, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar.

  • Bogner, H., Franckh, G., & Grauvogl, A. (1987) : Effect of roughage on behaviour of calves fattened on milk replacer. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews, 57, 2034.

  • Czako, J., Santha, T., & Kesthelgi, T. (1984). Data on the feeding behaviour of dairy cows. Allat Cs-tak, 33, 41-48.

  • Damasceno, J.C., Baccari Junior, F., & Targa, L.A. (1999). Behaviour responses of Holstein cows with constant or limited access to shade. Dairy Science Abstracts, 61, 4420.

  • Das K, S., & Das, N. (2007). Feeding behavior of pregnant dairy heifers during last trimester under loose housing System, Livestock Production Research (Cattle & Buffalo), Indian Veterinary Research Institute Izatnagar, Bareilly- 243122 (U.P). Indian Asian-Australasian Journal Animal Science, 20(9), 1402-1406.

  • Dulphy, J., & Rand Faverdin, P. (1987). L'ingestionalimentaire chez les ruminants: Modalitieset phenomenes associes. Reproduction, Nutrition, Development, 27, 129 155.

  • Empel, W., Jezierski, T., Brzazowski, P., Markiewiez Grabowska, H., Girnzewska, K., & Kolakowski, T. (1993). Behaviour of dairy cows within three hours after feed supply in influence of housing time and time elapsing after feed supply. Animal Science Papers and Reports, Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Jastrzeblec, 11, 301-309.

  • Gallouin, F., & Focant, M. (1980). Basesphysiologiques ducomportamentalimentaire chez le ruminant. Reproduction Nutrition Development, 20, 1563-1614.

  • Jat, R.P., Yadav, B.L., & Gupta, L.R. (2003b). Effect of roof modification in loose house on growth, resting and eliminatory behaviour of buffalo calves during rainy season. Proc. 4th Asian Buffalo Congress, New Delhi. P. :186 (Abstr.).

  • Kumar, R., et al. (2004b). Amelioration of environmental stress through modified housing and shelter management. Indian Dairyman, 55(4), 25-26.

  • Lewis, R.C., & Johnson, J.D. (1954). Observations of dairy cows activities in Loose housing. Journal of Dairy Science, 37, 269.

  • Maton, A., & Moor, A. (1975). A study of the relations between housing conditions and behaviour patterns and injuries in dairy cows. Dairy Science Abstracts, 37, 4580.

  • Mladenov, M., & Tomova, I. (1987). Behaviour of breeding heifers under different systems of management. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews, 57, 1553.

  • Pazdiora, R. D., Brondani, I. L., Silveira, M. F., Arboitte, M. Z., Cattelam, J., & Paula, P. C. (2011). Efeitos da frequência de fornecimento do volumoso e concentrado no comportamentoingestivo de vacas e novilhasemconfinamento. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 40(10), 2244-2251. doi: 10.1590/S1516-35982011001000026.

  • Sastry, N.S.R., Yadav, R.S., Sharma, V.B., & Juneja, I.J. (1981). Influence of type of floor and individual versus group housing ongrowth and parasitic load and some other aspects of Murrah buffalo heifers. Haryana Agricultural University Journal Of Research, 11, 452-454.

  • Sarma, N.K. (1991). Effect of managemental regimes on growth performance of female Murrah buffalo calves. Ph. D. Thesis, College of Animal Sciences, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar.

  • Schmisseur, W.E., Albright, J.L., Dillon, W.M., Kehrberg, E.W., & Morris, W.H.M. (1966). Animal behaviour responses to loose and free stall housing. Journal of Dairy Science, 49, 102-104.

  • Sharma, P., & Singh, K. (2001). Effect of shelter system on feeding and resting behaviour of crossbred cows in different seasons. Indian Journal of Dairy Science, 54, 266-270.

  • Sharma, P., & Singh, K. (2002a). Shelter seeking behaviour of dairy cattle in various types of housing systems. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 72(9), 91-95.

  • Singh, M.P. (1982). Effect of different housing conditions during summer and winter season on feed utilization and water intake by growing Female buffalo calves. Ph. D. Thesis, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar.

  • Singh, M.P., Karki, D.B., Mehla, O.P., & Sastry, N.S.R. (1985a). Behavioural patterns of growing buffalo heifers under three different housing conditions. Indian Journal of Dairy Science, 38, 289-294.

  • Thind, J.S., & Gill, R.S. (1986). Ingestive behaviour of lactation buffaloes kept under loose housing system. Indian Journal of Dairy Science, 39, 41-46.

  • Todkar, D.R., & Tomer, O.S. (1986). Behavioural studies on crossbred calves under different housing systems. Indian Journal of Animal Production and Management, 2(2), 77-78.

  • Vavak, V. (1983). Behaviour of loose-housed dairy cows on large dairy farms. Dairy Science Abstracts, 45, 5413.

  • Webb, F.M., Colenbrander, V.F., Blosser, T.H., & Weldern, D.E. (1963). Eating habbits of dairy cows under dry lot conditions. Journal of Dairy Science, 46, 1433-1435.

  • Yadav, B.L. (1981). Effect of housing and feeding systems on the milk yield, milk composition and physiological reaction of Murrah buffaloes during rainy season. M.Sc. Thesis, LPM Deptt., Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar.

  • Yadav, B.L., & Gupta, L.R. (1985a) : Effect of housing and feeding systems on the physiological reactions and behaviour of milch buffaloes during rainy season. Asian Journal of Dairy and Food Research, 4, 233-236.

  • Yazdani, A.R. (1996). Effect of the different source of proteins and type of housing on the growth performance of cross-bred calves. Ph. D. Thesis, Deptt. of LPM, CCS, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar.


Abstract Views: 169

PDF Views: 0




  • Effect on Feeding Behaviour Under Different Housing and Feeding Systems in Murrah Heifers

Abstract Views: 169  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Ashwani Saini
CIRB, SUB-Campus, Nabha, Punjab, India

Abstract


The objective of this study was to analyze the differences in behavior between groups of buffalo heifers reared in loose vrs. barn housing systems and fed on green and hay fodder during the autumn and hot season, to supplement the information for guidance of farmers on how to better manage their animals, increase thermal comfort and improve the feed conversion efficiency with efficient feed utilization. Twenty female buffalo heifers of about 12-15 month sage were selected from the buffalo herd under Buffalo Research Centre, Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Animal Sciences, CCS Haryana Agricultural University (LUVAS), Hisar. The animals were divided into four groups of 5 each based upon their average body weight and age. The experiment was installed for a period of 120 days (February 1 to May 31) to compare the effect of two housing and two feeding systems which were comprised of 4 treatment groups viz.: T1: Conventional barn + Hay and Concentrate mixture, T2: Conventional barn + Seasonal green fodder and Concentrate mixture,T3: Loose housing + Seasonal green fodder & Concentrate mixture, T4: Loose housing + Hay and Concentrate mixture.Ingestion, rumination and resting time in day and total time was significantly (P<0.05) effected between the housing systems. Total ingestion and total resting time was significantly (P<0.05) different between the feeding systems, whereas the Night resting time varied significantly (P<0.05) between both the housing and feeding systems. It concludes that when buffalo heifers have access to Loose housing on HAYfeeding in a Semi-intensive system under the climatic conditions of Hisar as they eat and ruminate more intensely than animals reared in Closed barn system fed with Green fodder. Thus, heifers prefer loose houseswhich is recommended for the animals to shelter them from direct solar radiation to ensure animal comfort, improved feed utilization and better feed conversion efficiency.

Keywords


Behaviour, Feeding, Hay, Fodder, Housing, Murrah, Heifer.

References