COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF TELLICHERRY  GOATS UNDER EARLY WEANING AND CONVENTIONAL  WEANING SYSTEM

S. Meenakshi Sundaram; T. Muthuramalingam; P. Tensingh Gnanaraj; T. Sivakumar; S.Vairamuthu; S. Rangasamy; E. Rachel Jemimah

doi:10.56093/ijvasr.v51i5.132264

Authors

S. Meenakshi Sundaram Professor and Head, Livestock Farm Complex, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai – 600 051
T. Muthuramalingam Assistant Professor, Livestock Farm Complex, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai – 600 051
P. Tensingh Gnanaraj Registrar, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai – 600 051
T. Sivakumar Professor and Head, Department of Livestock Production Management, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai – 7
S.Vairamuthu Professor and Head, Centralised Clinical Laboratory, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,Chennai – 7
S. Rangasamy Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,
E. Rachel Jemimah Assistant Professor, Post Graduate Research Institute in Animal Sciences, Kattupakkam – 603 203

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijvasr.v51i5.132264

Keywords:

Tellicherry goat, productive performance, reproductive performance, early weaning, conventional weaning

Abstract

The present work was formulated to evaluate the reproductive performance of Tellicherry does and the productive performance of their kids under the early weaning system. Second parity Tellicherry does aged between 2 – 2 1/2 years were divided into two groups namely treatment 1 (weaning at 90 days) and treatment 2 (weaning at 60 days) comprising of 20 does each. Reproductive parameters such as days to first estrum post kidding, days to conception post kidding, number of services per conception, and kidding interval of does were also recorded. Productive parameters such as body weight at birth, weaning, 6 months and 9 months of age, pre-weaning, post-weaning, and overall average daily gain, total biomass produced per kidding, and economics of rearing kids were recorded. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between weaning at 90 days and weaning at 60 days in terms of days to first estrum post kidding, days to conception post kidding, number of services per conception, and kidding interval. Kids born under the early weaning system and the conventional system had similar birth weights. Kids weaned early by 60 days had significantly lower (P < 0.01) weaning weight, body weight at six months, body weight at nine months, total biomass produced / kidding, pre-weaning average daily gain, post-weaning average daily gain, and overall average daily gain compared to kids weaned at 90 days. Early weaning did not improve the reproductive performance of Tellicherry does and had a negative impact on the productive performance of kids.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

BAHFS (2017). Basic animal husbandry and fisheries statistics. Borkowska, D., Piątek, D., Janus, E. and Mucha, J. (2012). Fertility of cows in a high yielding herd. Scientific Annals of Polish Society of Animal Production, 8: 21-29.

FAO (2008). http://faostat.fao.org.

Lawson, J.L., Forrest, D.W. and Shelton, I.I. (1984). Reproductive response to manipulation in spanish suckling goats. Theriogenology, 21(5): 747- 755.

Lu, C.D. and Potchoiba M.J. (1988). Milk feeding and weaning of goat kids – A Review. Small Ruminant Research, 1(2): 105 – 112. NAPG (National action plan on goats) (2018).

Ronquillo, J.C.C., Martinez, A.P., Perez, C.M.B., Sandoval, B.F., Martin, G.B., Valencia, J. and Sanchez, J.G. (2008). Prevention of suckling improves post¬partum reproductive responses to hormone treatments in Pelibuey ewes. Animal Reproduction Science, 107(1- 2): 85-93.

Santhoshkumar, R., Ramesh, V., Sivakumar, K. and Thiruvenkadan, A.K. (2018). Effect of weaning age of lambs on reproductive performance and body weight changes of M e c h e r i ewes. Indian Journal of Small Ruminants, 24(1): 154-156.

Verma, N.K., Dangi, P.S., Dixit, S.P., Aggarwal, R.A.K. and Joshi, B.K. (2020). Goat genetic resources of India Malabari – A highly prolific goat of the southern region. NABGR, India.

Thiruvenkadan, A.K., Karunanithi, K., Muralidharan, J. and Senthilvel, K. (2008). Comparative performance of purebred and crossbred Tellicherry kids. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 78(12): 1414 -1416.

Thiruvenkadan, A.K., Murugan, M., Karunanithi, K., Muralidharan, J. and Chinnamani, K. (2009). Genetic and non-genetic factors affecting body weight in Tellicherry goats. South African Journal of Animal Sciences, 39:107-111.

Venkatachalapathy, R.T., Rojan, P.M. and Raghavan, K.C. (2016). Malabari goat of Kerala. Centre for advanced studies in animal genetics and breeding, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Manuuthy, Kerala pp.12.