Effect of various levels of energy supplementation on nutrient utilization, draught performance and physiological responses of draught camels (Camelus dromedarious) fed groundnut straw based diets

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Jagdish Lal Choudhary

MPUAT, India

: J Vet Sci Med Diagn

Abstract

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The experiment was conducted on 9 draught Camels (8-9 years old of 572 ± 10.18 Kg. BW) to study the effect of energy supplementation fed Groundnut straw based diets on nutrient utilization, draught performance and physiological responses of draught camels. The randomly selected camels divided into three equal groups were offered ad lib Groundnut straw supplemented with either low energy (65% TDN) in concentrate (T1), medium energy (70% TDN ) in concentrates ( T2), or high energy (75% TDN) concentrates (T3). The mean DMI was higher (P<0.05) in T3 as compared to T2 and T1 groups. But a non significant difference was observed between T2 and T1 groups. The voluntary water intake (VMI), DCP and TDN intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 and T2 as compared to T1. There was a significant difference between T1, T2 and T3 for DCPI and TDNI. The digestibility of DM, CP and NFE was significant (P<0.05) in Camels fed 75% TDN concentrate mixture but there was non-significant difference between the treatment for digestibility of OM, CF and EE. While was a significant (P<0.05) Improvement in DCP and TDN contents in T3 as compared to T1 was observed. The DE and ME contents did not differ significantly among the groups. The draught (kgf) and power output (hp) was higher (P<0.05) in T3 as compared to other treatment group. The values of pulse rate, respiration rate and rectal temperature were found to increase with increase in draught and duration of carting. The maximum variation in physiological responses was noted at 22 percent draught. However, increase in rectal temperature did not show any remarkable effect at higher draughts. It was concluded that ad lib feeding of groundnut straw supplemented with high energy concentrates mixture resulted in improved nutrient utilization and draught performance by the camels without any apparent ill effect on the health.

Biography

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Jagdish Lal Choudhary developed a new technology of bypass protein feeding to lactating and growing animals. It is very useful and popular technology in the world today. He is the recipient of ICAR award of Senior Research Fellow during Ph.D. Programme (1996). His academic career has been excellent. During this period he contributed 56 papers in referred national and international journals, 22 papers in proceedings of national and international conferences, authored 3 books, contributed chapters in 7 books and authored 4 manuals, guided 5 Ph.D. and one M.Sc. thesis. Participated in 5 summer, winter and refresher courses and attended 40 Seminar/Conference/Workshops/Symposia and conducted 153 trainings at KVK, Sirohi.

E-mail: chaudharyjl@yahoo.com