Gir Calves Growth Performance, Feed Intake and Micro-Climate Variation under Different Housing Modification System during Winter Season
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Authors
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Maya Jat
Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner
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Ram Prasad Jat
Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner
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Vinod Bhateshwar
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
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Vinod Kumar Paswan
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
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Hanuman Lal Nehra
Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner
Keywords:
Feed efficiency, Feed intake, Gir calves, Growth performance, Housing modification, Micro-climateAbstract
The better scientific management of the calves during the growth phase ensures an optimal body growth rate and efficient feed conversion efficiency and has thus has a direct effect on the life time production and reproductive performance of dairy animals. This study investigated the Gir calves growth performance, feed intake and micro-climate variation under different housing modification system during winter season. Twenty-four healthy Gir calves of twelve months of age were randomly divided into three homogenous modified housing groups containing with eight calves in each group. Group GC-1: conventional barn (during night) + open paddock (during day), GC-2: conventional barn + rubber mat and GC-3: loose house + curtains. The concentrate supplements given 1.5 kg/calve/day as pellet feed, green lucerne (Medicago sativa) 2.5 kg/calve/day and wheat straw (Triticum aestivum) ad lib as dry fodder. During the statistical analysis, the mean minimum morning temperature (P<0.05) was higher in GC-2 (11.81oC) over than GC-1 (10.64oC) and GC-3 (11.27oC) and the maximum morning temperature was significantly higher in GC-3 (22.97oC), which is above than groups GC-1 (22.21oC) and GC-2 (22.39oC). However, the mean value of the minimum evening temperature was significantly highest into GC-2 (12.40oC) followed by GC-3 (11.86oC) and GC-1 (11.67oC) and the maximum evening temperature was highest in GC-1 (24.95oC) followed by GC-3 (23.98oC) and GC-2 (23.54oC). The average mean both relative humidity (RH) percent and temperature humidity index (THI) along with morning and evening times was (P<0.05) higher in GC-1 than GC-2 and GC-3 groups. However, total dry matter intake, voluntary water intake and feed efficiency were significantly higher in the GC-1 group compared to the calves in the GC-2 and GC-3 groups. The monthly total average body weight gain of the claves was significantly (P<0.05) highest in group GC-1 (145.62 kg) followed by GC-2 (142.84) and GC-3 (142.35) groups. However, group GC-1 achieved the significantly (530.90 g/day) average daily weight gain followed by GC-2 (472.05 g/day) and GC-3 (449.88 g/day). It was concluded that the housing modification system can be effectively used to improve the growth performance, feed intake and sheds micro-climate of Gir calves during the winter season.
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