Milk Production and Reproduction Performance of Non-descript Buffaloes in Konkan Region

Background: Buffaloes are economically important in particular region and also buffalo milk are nutritionally rich. In Konkan region, buffalo should be rarely used only to get female buffalo for milk production. To improve the non-descript buffalo population for milk production and reproduction performance. Methods: During survey period January, 2021 to February, 2021, record of 400 non-descript buffalo, 270 non-descript buffalo having more than 4 years age old to be selected. Result: The average daily milk yield, peak milk yield, total lactation milk yield, lactation length and dry period in non-descript buffaloes were 6.45±0.16 liters, 7.6±0.14 liters, 2007.66±45.83 liters, 302.86±0.34 days and 146.66±0.48 days, respectively. The average age at first calving, calving interval, service period, gestation period and number of calving were 45.96±0.18 months, 449.30±0.53 days, 128.86±0.31 days, 303.66±0.49 days, 2.72±0.12 numbers, respectively and autumn season of calving was more than another season.

Effects of concentrate mixture level on nutrient digestibility, growth, production and reproduction performance of Jamunapari goat under semi intensive condition

Twenty female Jamunapari goats of live weight of 10.5 ± 1.2 kg at 08± 0.56 months of age were used for 240 days feeding trial. Goats were assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with five (05) goats in each group. All animals were supplied ad libitum green grass and water. They were supplied 150, 200, 250, 300 gm concentrate mixture per day with roughage for group T1, T2, T3, and T4 respectively. Total dry matter (TDM) intake (413.2, 456.67, 489.2 and 495.7g/day) in groups T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively, was significantly (p≤0.01) influenced by the level of concentrate in the diet. Average total digestible crude protein (DCP) intake (3.1, 3.5, 3.9, 4.0 g/kg body weight and average total digestible nutrient (TDN) intake 21.1, 22.3, 24.7, 25.1 g/kg body weight was significantly (p≤0.01) higher in group T4 and lower in group T1. The nutrient intake and digestibility were also significantly higher (p≤0.01) in T4 group. The percent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) were 70.1, 75.99, 73.50, 67.24, 62.13 and 49.60%, 73.14, 76.97,76.84, 68.32, 64.04 and 53.25%, 75.45,78.44,78.67,70.43,68.43 and 59.77%, 79.56, 80.16,81.69,72.45,70.82 and 63.09% in T1, T2, T3 and T4 group, respectively. Reproductive performances, birth weight of kids and litter size did not differ significantly between groups, but had significant effect on feed digestibility and milk production. Daily 300 gm concentrate mixture along with roughage is necessary for better growth, production and reproduction performance of Jamunapari doe in semi-intensive system. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.8(2): 223-230, August 2021

Current Status of Indigenous and Highly Productive Chicken Breeds in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, chicken production plays an important role in providing human food consumption, growth of domestic products, and creating employment opportunities. Despite their importance, the production and reproduction performance of chickens in the country is under expectation owing to the gap between low productive indigenous and low adaptive ability of highly productive chicken breeds. By considering this, the present paper aims to deliver, synthesize, and summarize the compiled information on the current status of indigenous and highly productive chicken breeds. Currently, there are several highly productive chicken breeds available in Ethiopia. Among these, Rhode Island Red, Fayoumi, Potchefstroom Koekoek, Sasso, Bovan Brown, Issa Brown, and Leghorn are being kept under various husbandry systems. Besides, indigenous chicken ecotypes such as barley plumage color, red plumage color, white plumage color, and black plumage color have been characterized in the country. However, the average annual egg production of indigenous and highly productive chicken breeds did not exceed 60 and 250 eggs, respectively. On the other hand, the meat production ability of indigenous chickens is limited as cockerels and pullets may reach 1.5 and 1.05 kilogram live weight at 6 months of age, respectively. Concerning the husbandry system, a majority of owners supplied feed to chickens on the ground and water in plastic containers while scavenging is being the common feeding system in most parts of the country. Furthermore, the majority of the owners are using no separate housing system and treat their chickens traditionally. Thus, awareness should be emphasized on enhancing the improvement of chicken husbandry systems for better production and reproduction performance.

Reproduction performance, morphometric and structure population of Kuntu buffalo (Bubalis bubalis Merr) in Kampar District, Riau, Indonesia

Yendraliza, Rodiallah M, Zumarni, Elfawati, Hidayati, Kusnadi. 2021. Reproduction performance, morphometric and structure population of Kuntu buffalo (Bubalis bubalis Merr) in Kampar District, Riau, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3370-3377. Kuntu buffalo is one of the germplasm of Riau Province. This study aimed was to determine reproduction performance, potential output, population dynamics, and morphometrics of Kuntu buffalo in Kampar Kiri, Indonesia. The research was conducted in July-October 2019 with materials used in the study were 2.746 buffalo and 1.117 buffalo breeders. The research method used was a survey. The respondents from five locations were determined using a purposive sampling technique. The age at first mating of buffalo 42 ± 0.7 months, the S/C 2.6 ± 1.5 times, calving interval 15.3 ± 2.3 months and calving rate 55.59%. The reproductive efficiency of Kuntu buffalo 96.22%, a natural increase of 55.59%, the net replacements rates (male and female) were 289.60% and 446.59%, respectively and potential output of 39.24% was obtained. The population dynamics of the Kuntu buffalo from 2014 to 2019 experienced a growth of 48% with prediction of the population in 2023 is 7.277 heads. The average body size of male and female Kuntu buffalo is small. The conclusion of Kuntu buffalo reproduction is still efficient with the availability of substitute livestock exceeding the need of livestock and the natural increase of Kuntu buffalo population is very high.

Evaluation of dietary coated omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on reproduction performance, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood profiles in lactating sows and suckling piglets

A total of 16 sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were used in a 33-day trial (7 days before expected parturition) to determine the effects of dietary coated omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on reproduction performance, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood profiles in lactating sows and suckling piglets. Pigs were randomly allotted into two treatments with 8 replicates per treatment and the parity was 4.9. The dietary treatments were as follows: CON, corn-soybean meal based diet (omega-6:omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ratio of 17:1) and TRT, CON + 0.9% omega-3 PUFA (omega-6:omega-3 PUFA ratio of 5:1). The supplementation of coated omega-3 increased piglet’s body weight (BW) (d 7) and average daily gain (ADG) (d 0 to d 7) (P < 0.05) from farrowing to weanling compared with control. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed on reproduction performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood profile in sows. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the dietary supplementation of 0.9% omega-3 PUFA in corn-soybean meal based diet (omega-6:omega3 PUFA ratio of 5:1) improved BW and ADG of suckling piglets during the first week.