Background: Globally, safeguarding food and nutritional security of ever increasing population demands sustainable crop and livestock production. While urbanization, decrease in cultivable land and stiff feed-fuel-food competition accompanied with skyrocketing price of conventional feedstuffs hinders the sustainable livestock production. Hence, it necessitates search and exploration of alternative feed resources along with judicious utilization of existing feed resources. In this context, Cashew nut meal (CNM) is one such alternative feed resource but the studies pertaining to its optimum level of inclusion in animal diet is scanty. Therefore, the study was conducted to assess the effect of incorporating varying levels of cashew nut meal (CNM) as a supplement on in vitro rumen fermentation kinetics and digestibility. Methods: Seven distinct compounded feed mixtures (CFM) were formulated, with CNM progressively replacing 0 (C0), 10 (C1), 20 (C2), 30 (C3), 40 (C4), 50 (C5), and 60 (C6) per cent of the soybean meal (SBM) protein present in the control CFM. Additionally, seven experimental complete diets (T0 to T6) were prepared by blending these CFM with Super Napier (Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum glaucum) hay in a 40:60 ratio. These diets were subjected to rumen in vitro gas production (RIVGP) study with cumulative gas production measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 and 96 h post-incubation. Subsequently, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVTDMD) and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) of the diets were determined using a modified in vitro two-stage technique. Later, total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) were estimated using gas chromatography. Result: Analysis of chemical composition revealed that CNM contains good protein of 256.5 g/kg. The potential gas production (D) and the rate and extent of gas production (c) for diets containing CNM ranged from 54.63 to 60.24 mL and 0.036 to 0.043 h-1, respectively. IVTDMD and NDFD analysis of the seven diets fell within the range of 79.12% to 80.80% and 64.72% to 66.47%, respectively. The estimated TVFA for seven diets ranged from 17.87 to 23.65 mM. Further, the metabolisable energy (ME) of diets ranged from 7.89 to 8.08 MJ/kg DM. Importantly, no significant differences were observed in rumen fermentation kinetics parameters, IVTDMD, NDFD and TVFA among treatments (T0 to T6). In conclusion, cashew nut meal could be used as an alternative to soybean meal in compounded feed mixtures of ruminants up to 30% (w/w) without any adverse effect on rumen fermentation pattern and digestibility.
Pig production occupies an important place in modern agriculture. Piglets are far less demanding on nutrients as compared to poultry. The experiment was conducted to know the effect of feeding organic and inorganic sources of additional zinc on growth incidences of gut microbial status in piglets. Sixty graded (Large White Yorkshire) suckling piglets were randomly divided into three treatment groups of twenty piglets each based on litter size, parity and live birth weight. Treatment I (T1) served as control and these piglets were fed with deionized water daily as oral suspension. Treatment II (T2) and Treatment III (T3) were fed with fed Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Zinc Methionine (ZnM) daily (50 ppm) as oral suspension. The results of the experiment showed that the incidence of mortality in control (T1), zinc oxide (T2) and zinc methionine (T3) groups were 10, 5 and 0 per cent, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between control (T1), zinc oxide (T2) and zinc methionine (T3) groups. Based on the results of the current experiment and the reports available, the importance of supplementation of zinc oxide at higher than the recommended dosage may be considered for maintaining the proper growth, health and production status of piglets.
The study was conducted among 60 farmers to know the socio economic status of the farmers owning Kalyana Gidda cattle in Raichur and Yadgir districts of Northern Karnataka and they were exposed to a structured interview schedule.The study found that the family type of the respondents was majorly joint type and most of the respondents were in middle age category, followed by old age and young age category.It was found that majority of the farmers had no education followed by primary education and large majority of the respondents had agriculture as their primary occupation followed by agricultural labour, business and animal husbandry.It was evident from the results that the majority of the farmers had animal husbandry (66.66 %) as secondary occupation.A considerable size (35 %) of the respondents belonged to small farmers category, followed by 33.33, 18.33, 8.33, and 5 % of respondents belonged to medium, marginal, large and landless category, respectively.The family income of most of the farmers (70 %) was below Rs. 40,000 followed by Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 80,000 (23.33 %) and only 6.67 % of them had higher income (>Rs.80,000).It was observed that the average breeding bull holding by the farmers in the study area was higher in Yadgir block followed by Devadurga, Lingasugur and Surapur.Similar trend was observed for male and female calves holding.The average milking female holding was highest in Devadurga block followed by Yadgir, the female holding of Surpur and Lingasurgur was lesser.Similar trend was observed for bullock holding.The average milk yield recorded among all blocks was 2.27 L/day/cow in Kalyana Gidda cows.
A study was carried out to record the morphometric traits of different strains of Deoni cattle i.e. Balankya, Shevera and Wannera, an indigenous dual-purpose cattle breed native to Bidar district of Karnataka and adjacent regions. Data on 297 Deoni cows in 13 villages and Livestock Research & Information Centre (Deoni), Hallikhed (B) in Bidar district of Karnataka state was collected as part of the Field Performance Recording Project. Significant differences among the three strains (with overall means given in parenthesis) with respect to horn length (18.2 ± 0.443 cm), chest girth (160.78 ± 0.467 cm) and abdominal girth (166.42 ± 0.516 cm) were noticed. For all other traits like ear length (24.09 ± 0.145 cm), distance between horn bases (14.66 ± 0.111 cm), face length (48.06 ± 0.202 cm), height at withers (126.16 ± 0.338 cm), body length (129.7 ± 0.405 cm), height at hip (129.12 ± 0.388 cm), tail length (88.97 ± 0.415 cm) and body weight (286.17 ± 1.637 kg), no significant differences were recorded. It was concluded that the three strains of Deoni cattle were closely related to each other with respect to morphometric traits.
The study to find the physical characteristics of different strains of Deoni cattle, an indigenous cattle breed native to Bidar district of Karnataka and adjacent regions, was conducted during 2018-19 on 297 Deoni cattle in 13 villages and Livestock Research & Information Centre (Deoni), Hallikhed (B) in Bidar district of Karnataka state. The findings of the study revealed that in Deoni cattle, hair length was small (69.03%), eyelid colour was black (98.99%), hump colour was white (54.21%), hump size was medium (53.20%), horn shape was curved (68.35%), poll was ‘not prominent’ (63.86%), chest was wide (85.52%), milk vein was prominent (65.32%), tail switch colour was black (37.04%), forehead shape was concave (50.85%), dewlap was large (61.62%), and naval flap was small (34.34%). Ear orientation was drooping in all three strains Deoni cattle. The three strains of Deoni cattle i.e. Balankya, Shevera and Wannera strains had significant differences in various physical characteristics – hair color, hair length, eyelid colour, hump colour, tail switch colour, horn shape, forehead shape, and milk vein.
A study was conducted on the different management practices followed by organized stud farms in Karnataka.Information was collected by interview method using a structured schedule.The establishments of stud farms ranged from 18 to 19 centuries.The mean stock holding was 97.2 ± 21, with about 30 ± 8.75%, 41.6 ± 10.81% and 22.4 ± 7.0% owning stallions, mares and geldings, respectively.Most of the stables were of close type (100%) and located at an adjacent distance from the residence (100%).Concrete flooring was common (80%) and only 50% of the respondents are using straw 40% wood shavings as a bedding material.Mean stable dimensions were 162 ± 60 sq.ft.50% of respondents were cleaning Stables every day.Stone feed mangers and feed buckets were commonly used.Majority respondents practiced individual feeding (100%), with oats as the primary fodder, and concentrates fed thrice a day (52.6%).Vitamins, minerals, salts and electrolytes were given as feed supplements by all the respondents, and anti-stressors, amino acids and growth promoters were commonly used.Colostrum was fed to foals within 30 minutes of birth and concentrate feeding was introduced at 3 months of age.Natural mating (60%) with a breeding ratio of 1:5 and conception rate of 72.37%, and artificial insemination (40%) with a conception rate of 70.0%, were commonly practiced.The most common indicators of oestrus were valval discharge (50%) and swelling (10%).Most of the respondents preferred sandy surface for training their horses.Regular vaccination was practised for tetanus only.Most respondents regularly practised deworming and dental check-ups.Diarrhoea (100%), colic (100%), laminitis (90%) and endometritis (50%) were commonly recorded conditions.(70%) respondents reported transporting the horses once a month for clinical purposes.
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