Vol. 10, Special Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
CPS Solanki, GP Lakhani, Biswajit Roy, Aditya Mishra, SK Joshi and Bhavna Aharwal

Abstract:
For the study a total sixteen recently calved Murrah buffaloes and their calves were selected from Livestock Farm, Adhartal, Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur (M.P.) and randomly assigned into two different groups as suckling (control) and non-suckling (experimental) based on their lactation yield and parities. The average final body weight of non-suckling and suckling group of calves after 9 months of age was 116.56±2.49 and 125.07±3.17 kg respectively and there was no significant difference was found between the groups. The average daily weight gain (g) was 311.47±9.44 g and 343.61±5.58 g in non-suckling and suckling group calves, respectively and was significantly (P<0.05) higher in suckling group calves than non-suckling group calves. The average daily colostrum intake in 1st 5 days after birth by non-suckling and suckling calved were 2.68±0.08 kg and 2.90±0.09 kg respectively and there was statistically no-significant (P>0.05) difference was found between the groups. The average overall daily milk intake (kg) in non-suckling and suckling calves was 2.25±0.06kg and 2.40±0.06kg respectively. Milk intake for suckling group and non-suckling group showed a non-significant (P>0.05) difference. The overall mean milk intake time for non-suckling and suckling group of calves was 3.92±0.22 and 8.59±0.30 min, respectively and significantly (P<0.05) lower in non-suckling group calves than suckling group. The average dry matter intake (kg) through milk in non-suckling and suckling group calves were 2.67 kg and 2.83 kg, respectively and total dry matter intake from green fodder and concentrate were 7.62 kg vs. 7.75 kg and 7.38 kg vs. 7.39 kg by non-suckling and suckling group calves respectively and non-significant (P>0.05) difference was found between the groups.