Study on effect of grouped and individual housing system on growth performance and feeding behaviour of post weaned buffalo calves
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Abstract
The study was conducted at the Department of Livestock Management, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, to observe the influence of various types of housing systems on the growth and behaviour of post-weaned buffalo calves. For this study, a total of ten male buffalo calves, 12 months old, were randomly selected and distributed into two separate groups. Group A consisted of individual housing systems, and Group B consisted of grouped housing systems with five animals in each group. The findings of the study revealed that the initial and 1st fortnight body weights of buffalo calves were non-significant between groups A and B. However, during the 2nd and 6th fortnight observations, values significantly differed between groups A and B. The results showed that the highest daily weight gain was observed in Group A (463g) compared to Group B (366g). Similarly, the highest total weight gain was observed in Group A (41.7 kilograms) compared to Group B (32.97 kilograms). The initial, 1st, and 2nd fortnight body heights of buffalo calves were non-significant (p>0.05) between Groups A and B. However, a significant difference (p<0.05) in fortnight body heights of buffalo calves between Groups A and B was observed from the 3rd to the 6th fortnight of observations. Total rumination time was significantly higher in Group A (216±3.14 min/day) compared to Group B (172.8±2.35 min/day). The duration of lying bouts was significantly higher in Group B (144±1.63 min/day) compared to Group A (144±1.63 min/day). Feeding bouts time was significantly higher in Group A (216±2.78 min/day) compared to Group B (100.8±1.88 min/day).
Keywords: Housing system; Feeding behaviour; Growth; Post weaned; Buffalo calve