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Sustainability in livestock production

The present investigation was conducted to study the effect of climatic variables on physiological responses and haematological parameters of crossbred cows in summer season. In this study 16 crossbred cows were selected and randomly divided into two groups (G1 and G2). Cows of control group were housed in shed with sprinkler, whereas the cows of treatment group were housed in shed with fogger plus fans and mosquito net. Data on various physiological and haematological parameters were recorded and analysed statistically. Analysis revealed that, the maximum temperature and THI were significantly (P<0.05) lower in treatment shed as compared to control shed. Significantly (P<0.05) higher dry matter intake and milk yield in treatment (13.64±0.44 and 18.18±0.36 kg) as compared to control group (12.33±0.37 and 15.94±0.47 kg) were recorded during peak hot period. Rectal temperature, respiration rate and pulse rate was significantly (P<0.05) lower in treatment (38.28±0.05, 36.42±2.98 and 78.65±1.09 °C) as compared to control group (38.57±0.14, 51.15±4.34 and 83.59±0.83 °C). However, haemoglobin concentration (g/dl) and white blood corpuscles (10 3 /cmm) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in treatment (10.54±0.36 and 12.35±0.64) as copared to control group (9.52±0.43 and10.88±0.57). Therefore, it can be concluded that fogger with fans is the fundamental mean to protect the animals from thermal stress under loose housing during summer season.

Nutritional programme of pregnant cows have a significant effect on occurrence of lameness in later lactation. Highly productive lactating cows have much greater needs for minerals and vitamins. Blood biotin and zinc, that are important nutrients in the formation and integrity of the keratinized tissues, often decreases around calving and extra supplementation is recommended, particularly in lame cows during peri-parturient period . The present study was carried out on 40 high yielding lame crossbred KF cows maintained at Livestock Research Centre (LRC), NDRI Karnal, which were distributed into control and three treatment groups and supplemented with 10, 20 and 30 mg/d biotin and 2g of ZnSO 4 during periparturient period. The results of the study suggested that, transition diet with biotin and Zn supplementation significantly increased the concentrations of plasma biotin and Zn levels in supplemental groups compare to control. The overall biotin values were 344. 23±11.38, 637.42±24.78, 672.75±29.40 and 709.01±22.77 ng/L and Zn values were 0.40±0.01, 1.12±0.05, 1.22±0.05 and 1.18±0.05 ppm in control, T-1, T-2 and T-3 groups respectively. Thus, by feeding supplemental nutrients (biotin and zinc) lameness can be minimize in high yielding dairy cows during peri-parturient period.

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