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S. Rajapandi ¹, N. Ramanathan ², R. Pourouchottamane ³, A. S. Rajendiran ³, A. K. Thiruvenkadan ⁴, S. Ramesh Saravana Kumar ⁵, P. K. Pankaj ⁶

Affiliations
1 Gandhi Gram Rural Institute, DINDIGUL (T.N.), IN
2 School of Agriculture, Gandhi Gram Central University for Rural Development, DINDIGUL (T.N.), IN
3 Southern Regional Research Centre, ICAR, Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, MANNAVANUR (T.N.), IN
4 Department of Bio Statistics, Veterinary College and Research Institute (TANUVAS), NAMAKKAL (T.N.), IN
5 Department of Livestock Production Management, Veterinary College and Research Institute (TANUVAS), NAMAKKAL (T.N.), IN
6 Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (ICAR), HYDERABAD (TELANGANA), IN

Abstract

The present study was carried out at Institute Rabbit Farm of ICAR-Southern Regional Research Centre, Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Mannavanur, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India which is located at 2030 metre above mean sea level. The climatic conditions prevailing in the region is sub-temperate with winter temperature during night hours going below zero °C. The objective of investigation was to find out the influence of different factors such as year, season and parity on different litter traits and pre-weaning growth of White Giant rabbits in order to come out with the best strategies for improving the productivity of these rabbits. A total of 946 records for litter size at birth (LSB) and weaning (LSW), litter weight at birth (LWB) and weaning (LWW) were collected in the period between 2000 to 2009 and the data was analyzed using General Linear Model option of SAS 9.2. The overall LSB, LSW, LWB and LWW were 7.067±0.11, 5.788±0.13, 400.00±5.99g and 4.877±0.10 kg, respectively. All the litter traits varied significantly year-wise, however, they were not varying significantly parity-wise except LWW which increased progressively from first parity (4.364 ± 0.32 kg) to fifth parity (5.612 ± 0.27 kg). The season of kindling did not have significant role in affecting different litter traits and the values were comparable. The year, season and sex had significantly (P>0.01) influenced both weaning weight at six weeks and pre-weaning ADG. The growth was better in male animals as evident from higher body weight at six week age and average daily gain (853.090 ± 3.49 g and 19.123 ± 0.08 g/day vs. 820.493 ± 3.53 g and 18.347 ± 0.08 g/day). Rabbits born during winter months gained more weight (876.055 ± 4.86 g and 19.670 ± 0.12 g/day) while performance of rabbits born during spring and rainy season were comparable. The significant effects of the non-genetic factors like year of kindling on all litter traits, individual weight at weaning and pre-weaning ADG, season and parity on some of the traits are indications that any future breed development strategy must take into consideration the environment by providing additional care, feed supplementation and better shelter management to the rabbits so that the full genetic potential can be realized.

Keywords

Rabbit, Sub-Temperate, Litter Traits, Parity, Season, Growth.

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K. S. Reddy ¹, P. K. Pankaj ¹, N. N. Reddy ¹, N. S. Raju ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Saidabad, Hyderabad-500 059 (Telangana), IN

Abstract

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is an effective tool to understand the technology adoption profile in a cropping system, to get first-hand information about their needs, resources available, identify location-specific problems and researchable issues and ultimately to come up with tangible possible solutions drawn as an action plan. The present study was undertaken in Zamistapur (16.69N, 77.95E), Chowdarpally (16.71N, 77.94E), Telugu Gudem (16.68N, 77.94E) and Kodur Thanda (16.68N, 77.93E) villages of Mahabubnagar district, Telangana State. The PRA tools used include transect walk, agro-ecological mapping, social mapping, seasonal calendar, gender analysis, livelihood analysis, technology mapping, consequence diagram, problem-solving tree, etc. The major constraints identified were frequent droughts, soil salinity, water scarcity/groundwater availability at high depth, drinking water quality, erratic electricity supply, non-availability of labourers for agricultural activities, lack of quality germplasm of livestock, wild boar damage to crops, etc. Based on the problems identified, suitable solutions were arrived in consultation with subject matter experts and progressive farmers. There is need to address the problem of water scarcity, frequent droughts, insect and pest problems by the use of integrated watershed development, resource prioritisation and utilisation efficiency, use of IPM technologies, capacity building of farmers about relevant technologies, etc. This would certainly result in upliftment of the social status of the people as well as overall development of agriculture and rural livelihood as a whole. The researchable issues focused on the means to develop soil and water conservation plan trials on different cropping patterns/systems including rice/sorghum as main crop and short duration pulse and other vegetables so as to break the mono-cropping of rice and sorghum. Moreover, suitable extension programmes may be formulated and implemented with a problem solving approach considering the local resources and skill available within the farming community.

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V. Maruthi ¹, K. S. Reddy ¹, P. K. Pankaj ¹, A. G. K. Reddy ¹, G. Srikrishna ¹, S. M. Vidya Sekhar ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad 500 059, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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