Effect of housing systems and probiotic supplementation on methane production and body composition of crossbred calves*

Abstract

Crossbred calves (48) of Karan Swiss and Karan Fries breed of either sex aging five days were randomly distributed to 3 different housing systems and maintained on the NDRI feeding schedule with or without probiotic supplementation until they attained 6 months age. The body composition was determined by modified antipyrine dilution technique. The inethane production was determined by sulphur hexafluoride tracer technique. Housing systems had highly significant effect on per cent body water, body fat, body protein and body ash (P<0.01). Probiotic supplementation had nonsignificant (P>0.01) effect on either of the above body composition parameters. The average body water percentage was greater (65.90%) in crossbred calves housed in individual cages on slatted floors (H₂) followed by the calves housed loose in groups on pucca floor (H) and lowest in calves tied individually on partially kutcha floor (H)-The average body fat percentage was highest in H₃ followed by that in H₁ and H₂. The body ash percentage was highest in crossbred calves in H₂ followed by H₁and lowest in H₂. The average body protein percentage of crossbred calves was highest in H₂ followed by H₁ and lowest in H₃. The effect of probiotic supplementation on percentage of methane in ruminal gas, methane production in 1/day and moles/ day was highly significant (P <0.01), whereas, the effect of breed on all these parameters was nonsignificant (P>0.05). The effcct of breed on methane production in 1/kg of body weight was significant (P<0.01). In calves supplemented with probiotic the percentage of methane in ruminal gas was less (24.4%) as compared to the methane production in calves not supplemented with probiotic (27.3% ).The methane production in 1/ day and moles/day in calves supplemented with probiotic was also less (43.52 1/day and 1.94 moles/day respectively) whereas in calves not supplemented with probiotic it was more (52.54 1/day and 2.35 moles/day respectively). The methane production in 1/ kg of body weight was also less in calves supplemented with probiotic (0.42 l/kg of body weight) whereas in calves not supplemented with probiotic it was more (0.52 l/kg of body weight).