Background: Globally, human population in increasing at a very fast rate which is decreasing the land coverage with time. It was found that only 4% of the area is left for cultivating fodder. As a consequence, livestock is dependent on crop residues that are poor in dietary quality, crude protein with high fibre. Also the concentrate, most vital element in animal diet is very expensive and responsible for reducing the income. It is the need of the hour to develop cheap protein sources to promote adequate growth along with raising income. Under this context, Azolla pinnata can act as the best source for protein substitution. The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of protein replacement through Azolla pinnata on performance of Sahiwal female calves. Method: The experiment were conducted in 18 growing Sahiwal female calves distributed into three groups (T0, T1and T2) for 90 days. The animals in (T0) group were fed as per ICAR 2013 feeding standards, while (T1) and T2 group was fed by replacing 15%, 30% protein content of concentrate with Azolla pinnata on DM basis respectively. Results: Proximate analysis of Azolla pinnata revealed that it has higher CP value (26.50% on DM basis) and there was no significant difference in total dry matter intake, CP intake and TDN intake in all the treatment groups. The average daily live-weight gain (ADG) was higher in T2 followed by T1 group. Thus, it can be concluded that Azolla pinnata can be used as a novel initiative for protein replacement in Sahiwal female calves.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

In order to investigate the effect of rearing systems on growth and rumen development in Malabari male kids, 14 pre-weaned Malabari male kids of uniform morphological characters were randomly divided into two equal groups as T and T. Both the groups were reared intensively for 12 weeks whereby kids under T group were allowed to suckle their dams and provided green grass ad libitum. The kids under T were weaned at the age of 7 days and provided formulated semi-solid broiler goat concentrate diet through the feeding bottle and were not offered any grass/roughage. Parameters like live weight gain, daily weight gain and body measurements were studied to evaluate the growth performance. However, gastrointestinal tract morphometric studies and qualitative morphological analysis of rumen papillae were undertaken to measure the rumen development. The daily weight gain of kids under T was significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher than the daily weight gain of kids under T. Also, the body measurements like height at withers, heart girth and body length were significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher in T than in T. The rumen and abomasum were comparatively more developed in T than in T. The morphology of rumen papillae in both groups was different in size, shape and colour. The length, width, density and surface area of rumen papillae among kids in T were significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher than those kids in T. The results of the present study indicated that the feeding of semi-solid broiler goat concentrate diet improved growth performance and early rumen development in kids.