Live Weight Gain (live + weight_gain)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Effect of feeding complete feed block containing Prosopis cineraria leaves and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000 on nutrient intake, its utilization, rumen fermentation pattern and rumen enzyme profile in kids

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 11 2005
Raghavendra Bhatta
Abstract A study was carried out to determine the effect of replacing the cake portion of concentrate mixture with 5 parts polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000 in a complete feed block (CFB) containing Prosopis cineraria leaves on the performance, rumen fermentation pattern and rumen enzyme profile of kids under an intensive system of rearing. Eighteen weaners of Sirohi goat of similar body weight (16.0 ± 0.5 kg) and age (90 ± 5 days) were divided into three equal groups. They were housed in individual cages in a side open asbestos roof shed with mud floor. All the kids received CFBs containing 50 parts P cineraria leaves and 50 parts concentrate mixture. CFB offered to the first group had high protein (183.8 g kg,1; HP), that offered to the second group had low protein (131.3 g kg,1; LP) and that offered to the third group had low protein (124.7 g kg,1) but contained PEG-6000 (LP-PEG). The concentrate mixtures in LP and LP-PEG were without groundnut cake, whereas in LP-PEG, groundnut cake was replaced by barley and 5 parts PEG-6000 were incorporated. CFBs were similar in their nutritive value except for crude protein (CP). Prosopis leaves utilized in the CFB contained (g kg,1 dry matter) 129.1 CP, 535.5 neutral detergent fibre, 395.8 acid detergent fibre and 222.8 acid detergent lignin. There were significant differences in dry matter intake (g day,1) between HP (1102), LP (1108) and LP-PEG (1194); the trend in Metabolizable energy intake was similar. During the growth trial, LP kids consumed maximum amount of feed (76.91 kg) followed by HP (75.73 kg) and LP-PEG (73.12 kg). However, maximum feed efficiency (feed consumed kg,1 live weight gain) was recorded in LP-PEG kids (9.59) followed by HP (10.64) and LP (11.60). These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Although there was no significant difference in the digestibility of dry matter among the groups, there was significant difference in the digestibility of CP, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre. The digestibility of CP was 0.591, 0.484 and 0.645, that of neutral detergent fibre was 0.397, 0.308 and 0.499 and that of acid detergent fibre was 0.168, 0.154 and 0.282 in HP, LP and LP-PEG, respectively. Rumen metabolites studied 6 h after feeding revealed that there were significant (p < 0.05) differences in the concentrations of ammonia N, tri-chloro acetic acid precipitable N and total volatile fatty acids among the three groups, but not pH. The rumen enzyme concentrations showed significant (p < 0.05) differences for ,-amylase, whereas the differences were non-significant for CMcase and protease. After 90 days of feeding trial, the maximum weight gain was recorded in LP-PEG (7.62 kg) followed by HP (7.23 kg) and LP (6.53 kg). It can be concluded that, when kids are reared under an intensive system on complete feed blocks containing Prosopis leaves, high protein concentrate can be replaced with a low protein concentrate containing 5 parts PEG, which would not only alleviate the negative effects of tannin but would also spare expensive groundnut protein. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Hemato-biochemical changes, disease incidence and live weight gain in individual versus group reared calves fed on different levels of milk and skim milk

ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009
Lakshman K. BABU
ABSTRACT A 2 × 3 factorial design was used to study the impact of rearing systems, individual (I) versus group (G) and different levels of milk/skim milk feeding (F1, F2 and F3) on hemato-biochemical profile, disease incidence and average daily gain of crossbred (Bos indicus × Bos taurus) calves. Six calves were taken in each group on the basis of their birth weight and housed in individual (2.20 × 1.16 m2/calf) or in group pens (2.20 × 1.03 m2/calf). After 3 days of colostrum feeding, calves were allocated to one of three different milk feeding schedules: milk fed up to 8 weeks of age (F1), milk up to 4 weeks followed by 50% replacement by skim milk up to 6 weeks and 100% thereafter (F2) and 100% replacement of milk with skim milk after 4 weeks (F3). Calf starter and cereal green fodders were fed ad libitum from the second week of age and continued for 14 weeks. Parameters on health and disease profiles of calves (disease incidence, duration of illness, response to treatment and recovery) and weekly live weight change were recorded. Calf scour predominated (52.8%), followed by joint ill (25.0%) and respiratory infections (19.4%). The disease incidence was greater (P < 0.01) in individually housed calves (94.4 vs. 55.9%). The management of navel ill required longer recovery (7.01 days) followed by joint ill (4.87 days) and respiratory infection (4.86 days). The average daily gain during 0,14 weeks of age was higher (P < 0.01) in group-housed calves (433 ± 22 vs. 355 ± 31 g), while the effect of feeding was not significant. Blood samples collected at 4, 8 and 14 weeks of age showed some periodic higher concentrations (but within normal range) of plasma urea and total protein in group housed calves on F2 and F3 feeding schedules in response to high protein intake. Other parameters remained non-significantly different. Thus, group-housed calves can be reared successfully with comparatively better performance and less illness than individually housed ones under the present health care and housing management system. However, the system should not be used as a substitute for good management, and frequent observations of calves should be an integral part of any successful rearing program. [source]


Effect of fishmeal replacement with Artemia biomass as a protein source in practical diets for the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 6 2009
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh
Abstract A 30-day feeding experiment was conducted in 160-L plastic tanks to evaluate the potential use of Artemia biomass as a protein source in practical diets for postlarval Macrobrachium rosenbergii (initial mean weight of 12.12,12.29 mg). Nine isoenergetic and isonitrogenous experimental diets (approximately 40% crude protein) were formulated by replacing levels of the fishmeal (FM) protein difference either with dried or frozen Artemia (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%). The 0%Artemia treatment, in which Peruvian FM was the only main protein source, was considered to be the control diet. The results showed that prawn postlarvae (PLs) fed the FM control diet had a lower survival (46%) compared with all Artemia diets. Significant differences (P<0.05) were, however, only found at 75% and 100%Artemia protein inclusion levels (survival of 68,77%). A gradual increase in growth performance (live weight gain, specific growth rate and total length) of the prawns was achieved on increasing dietary inclusion of Artemia protein. Additionally, the size distribution exhibited the same response as growth performance. However, prawns fed the frozen Artemia diets showed a better performance than the ones fed the dried Artemia diets. It can be suggested that Artemia biomass may totally replace FM in practical diets for PLs of the freshwater prawn M. rosenbergii. [source]


Dietary arginine requirement of fingerling hybrid Clarias (Clarias gariepinus×Clarias macrocephalus)

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 1 2007
Shalini Singh
Abstract The dietary arginine requirement of fingerling hybrid Clarias (Clarias gariepinus×Clarias macrocephalus) (4.2±0.03 cm, 0.56±0.04 g) was determined by feeding six isonitrogenous (400 g kg,1 crude protein) and isocaloric (17.9 kJ g,1) amino acid test diets containing casein, gelatin and l -crystalline amino acids with graded levels of arginine (10.0, 12.5, 15.0, 17.5, 20.0 and 22.5 g kg,1) for 4 weeks to triplicate groups. Diets were fed twice a day at 09:00 and 16:00 hours at 8% body weight day,1. Maximum weight gain (523%), best feed conversion ratio (FCR, 1.41), protein efficiency ratio (1.78) and specific growth rate (6.53%) were recorded in fish fed the diet containing arginine at 20.0gkg,1 of the diet. Second-degree polynomial regression analysis of live weight gain and FCR values indicated the dietary arginine requirement at 17.8 and 20.0 g kg,1 of dry diet respectively. Significantly higher carcass protein and protein deposition values were recorded at the requirement level (20.0 g kg,1). Higher fat and lower moisture values were obtained in carcass of fish fed the diet with 15.0g kg,1 arginine. The maximum carcass ash value was noticed in the fish fed at 20.0 g kg,1 dietary arginine. We recommend that the diet for hybrid Clarias (C. gariepinus×C. macrocephalus) should contain arginine in the range of 17.8,20.0 g kg,1 of the dry diet, corresponding to 44.5 and 50 g kg,1 of dietary protein respectively. [source]


Comparison of total tract digestibility, development of visceral organs and digestive tract of Mong cai and Yorkshire × Landrace piglets fed diets with different fibre sources

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 2 2009
N. T. Len
Summary The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of piglet age and dietary fibre source on the development of visceral organs and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and on growth performance and total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) in local [pure-breed Mong cai (MC)] and exotic [Landrace × Yorkshire (LY)] piglets. The experimental diets contained different fibre sources: C (basal diet), RB (basal diet + rice bran), SPVM (basal diet + sweet potato vine meal) and CReM (basal diet + cassava residue meal). The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content in diet C and the fibrous diets was 8.8% and 17.1%,17.7% respectively (dry matter basis). Collection of faecal samples to determine TTAD was carried out for five consecutive days before the experiment was finished (63 days). The piglets were killed at the age of 10 days (before being given the same solid feed), 30 days (weaning, 20 days after solid feed introduced) and 63 days (33 days after being given the different fibrous diets) when the length of intestinal segments, weight of organs (liver, heart, kidneys) and empty weight of the GIT (stomach, small intestine, caecum and colon + rectum) were measured. As the age of animals increased, the relative weight of organs and the length of intestines (expressed on a mass-specific basis) decreased (p < 0.05), and the weight of GIT increased (p < 0.001). The piglets fed fibrous diets had heavier GIT than those fed diet C with the highest values in CReM (p < 0.05). The colon + rectum length was not significantly different among C, RB and SPVM, but was shorter than in CReM (p < 0.05). Coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients in the fibrous diets was lower than in C (p < 0.01). Average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in C, RB and CReM were not different and were better than in SPVM (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the weights of organs between the two breeds at day 10, 30 and 63 (p > 0.05). The weight and length of GIT were not significantly different between the two breeds at day 10 and day 30, but were greater for MC at day 63. The caecum and colon + rectum at 10 and 30 days were longer in MC than in LY (p < 0.001). The relative development of GIT post-weaning was higher than pre-weaning, the difference being most apparent in MC. As a result at 63 days, MC had heavier visceral organs and GIT, and longer intestines on fibrous diets than LY (p < 0.05). The MC at 63 days had higher CTTAD of organic matter, gross energy, crude fibre and NDF (p < 0.001) and ether extract and crude protein (p < 0.05), but lower ADG and poorer FCR than LY (p < 0.001). It can be concluded that the GIT of the MC piglets developed more rapidly than LY when they were introduced to solid feed, and that the difference was more marked on the fibrous diets and after weaning, which resulted in higher total tract digestibility of nutrients in MC compared with LY. Cassava residue meal was better digested than RB and SPVM, and supported higher live weight gains. [source]