Browsing by Author "George Mathen"

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Effect of dried spleen as a growth promoter in the ration of crossbred calves
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Sagathevan, S; George Mathen
An investigation was carried out to assess the effect of dried spleen as a growth promoter m the ration of crossbred calves Twenty crossbred heifer calves of six to nine months of age were distributed randomly into four groups (group I II III and IV) as uniformly as possible with regard to age and body weight The animals m groups I II III and IV were maintained on concentrate ration A containing 20 per cent crude protein concentrate ration B containing 20 per cent crude protein and 0 1 per cent dried buffalo spleen concentrate ration C containing 15 per cent crude protein and concentrate ration D containing 15 per cent crude protein and 0 1 per cent dried buffalo spleen respectively The animals in groups I II III and IV showed average daily weight gain of 633 667 572 and 594 gramsrespectively The animals m group I and II showed higher weight gain than those m group III and IV but on statistical analysis there was no significant difference among the four groups The dried buffalo spleen biostimulator did not have any effect on change m body measurements viz height at withers body length and chest girth biostimulator treated group and control The animals in group I and II had higher digestibility coefficients for crude fibre neutral detergent fibre hemicellulose and cellulose than the animals m group III and IV The digestibility coefficient for crude protein was higher in group III and IV A critical assessment of the overall results obtained during the course of the present study indicates that addition of dried spleen biostimulator at a rate of 0 1 per cent m the ration did not have any effect on growth feed efficiency haematological value rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility m crossbred calves with an average daily gain of 600 grams per day
Evaluation of complete feed for meat production in calves
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2002) Ajith, K S; George Mathen
An experiment was carried out in three months old crossbred calves with an aim to utilize male and surplus female calves for meat production. Eighteen crossbred calves were grouped into three, considering body weight, breed, sex and age. Animals of group A and B received complete feed consisting of a concentrate mixture and grass hay, with eight (Ration A) and twelve per cent crude fibre (Ration B) respectively, while the animals of group C received the conventional control ration consisting concentrate and green grass (Ration C). During the experimental period of five months fortnightly body weights and body measurements were recorded. The body weights and body measurements except chest girth showed significant increase (Pcomplete rations. The average daily body weight gain (AOG) showed significant increase (Pthose fed control ration while the cumulative feed conversion efficiency was significantly higher for group A (Pgroup C. The average daily body weight gain obtained in the experiment were 668.83 ± 22.37, 658.55 ± 35.41 and 497.83 ± 33.35 g/day and the cumulative feed conversion efficiency were 4.71 ± 0.15,5.57 ± 0.37 and 6.99 ± 0.42 for A, B and C groups respectively. The digestibility coefficients for dry matter and crude fibre were significantly higher (Pthose fed complete rations, while crude protein digestibility was lower for ration A (P<0.05) and ration B (P obtained were 50.80 ± 0.70, 51.30 ± 1.43 and 45.17 ± 1.25 with a meat yield of 34.60 ± 0.15, 35.30 ± 1.12 and 30.73 ± 1.24 for A, B and C groups respectively. The gross profit per animals for five months was calculated as Rs.1399.00, Rs.l550.00 and Rs.632.25 for A, Band C groups respectively.
Evaluation of complete rations for kids for meat production
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Dildeep, V; George Mathen
An investigation was carried out in Malabari kids of three to four months of age to study the influence of animal protein and monensin incorporated in complete pelleted concentrate type diet on the growth of animals. Thirty kids were divided into three equal groups, 1, 2 and 3, and fed on three pelleted complete rations, isocaloric and isoproteimic. Ration 2 incorporated meat cum bone meal and ration 3, fish meal at 5 percentage level replacing gingelly oil cake of ration 1 and fed to respective groups for a period of91 days. Animal protein inclusion did not show any significant positive influence on the growth of kids. No significant growth difference between the male and female animals of the three groups were observed. There was significant increase (Panimal protein, but had no positive influence on other body measurements. Significantly lower (Panimal protein containing diets, which can be attributed to palatability problems. The feed conversion efficiency and nitrogen balance values of kids were not influenced by animal protein inclusion. It also had no influence on digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre and nitrogen free extract of the diets. Dressing percentage of kids slaughtered at six months of age in the three groups were almost similar. The gross profit that can be expected from animals of group 2 worked out to be Rs.357.90 compared to Rs.292.06 and Rs.286.20 per animal in group 1 and group 3 respectively for a period of 13 weeks. Histopathological study of the rumen tissues of all the three groups showed rumen papillae that were long and thickened with sparsely distributed keratin deposition indicating distinct parakeratosis, but no clinical symptoms of lactic acidosis were observed. It is possible to maintain kids of three to four months of age profitably on concentrate like complete feeds, supplemented with monensin and sodium bicarbonate for a period not exceeding 91 days.
Influence of different levels of energy on growth performance of crossbred pigs
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2001) Rekha, P; George Mathen
An experiment was conducted to assess •the influence of different levels of energy on the growth performance of crossbred (Large White Yorkshire x Desi) pigs. Fifteen male (castrated) and fifteen female weaned crossbred piglets with an average body weight of 12.9 kg were divided into three equal groups as uniformly as possible with regard to age, sex and body weight. The three groups of piglets were maintained on three rations with 16 per cent crude protein but differing in their energy content, viz., 2800 kcal (T1), 3000 kcal CT2) and 3200 kcal (TI) of digestible energy (DE) per kg. The average daily gains recorded for the three groups T1, T2 and TI were 262.9, 302.0 and 362.8 g respectively. The cumulative feed conversion efficiencies were 6.0, 5.2 and 4.1 for the groups T1, T2 and TI respectively. The values recorded for TI were higher (P<0.01) than those for T1 and T2. The digestibility coefficients of nutrients except that of crude fibre and crude protein were found to improve with increase in the energy content of the rations. Study of the carcass traits revealed that the body weight at slaughter and dressed weight without head improved as the energy content of the rations increased. However, dressing percentage, carcass length and back fat thickness were not significantly influenced by the energy content of the ration. The cost of feed per kg weight gain of animals was significantly lower (P<0.01) for the dietary treatment T3 compared to that of T2 and Tl, the values being Rs.49.90, 43.30 and 34.10 for Tl, T2 and T3 respectively. The above results indicate that crossbred pigs require 3200 kcal of DE/kg of the ration for better growth performance provided the crude protein level is maintained at 16 per cent.
Monensin supplementation in complete rations for kids
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Biju Chacko; George Mathen
An investigation was carried out to assess the influence of monensin supplementation in complete rations for kids. Thirty Malabari kids of three to four months of age were divided randomly into three equal groups (I, 11 and Ill). The animals were maintained on isoproteimic and isocaloric complete rations A, Band C containing eight, twelve and sixteen per cent crude fibre respectively for a period of 13 weeks'" (91 days). The rations were supplemented with monensin at the rate of 20 mg/kg. The weight gained by animals during the experimental period was highest in group I followed by groups 11 and III in the descending order, groups I and 11 showing significantly higher gains (Pthe positive influence of monensin in rations containing lower levels of crude fibre. Monensin did not appear to have any effect on body measurements viz., body length, chest girth and height at withers. The average daily dry matter (DM) intake of animals in group I was significantly higher (P there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in DM intake per 100 kg body weight between the three groups. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in weekly feed conversion efficiency values between the three groups. The cost of production per kilogram gain increased linearly with increase in the level of crude fibre in the ration. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract and nitrogen free extract did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between the three groups. However, the digestibility coefficient of crude fibre was significantly lower (P<0.05) in group I when compared to groups 11 and Ill. The average dressing percentage did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between the three groups. The animals in groups 11 and III showed milder A distinct group I. parakeratosis ~as evident in animals of degrees of parakeratosis in descending order. The gross profit declined linearly with increase in the level of crude fibre in the ration. From an overall evaluation of the results obtained during the course of the present investigation, it can be inferred that, supplementing monensin in low fibre complete rations improves growth and feed efficiency in kids reared under intensive system of management. The gross profit that can be expected from a kid of group I fed on ration A works out to Rs.254 over a period of 90 days