Browsing by Author "Mercy, A D"

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Effect of energy supplementation on growth of crossbred heifers
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2001) Sunil Wilson; Mercy, A D
An investigation was carried out to assess the effect of energy supplementation on growth of crossbred heifers. Eighteen crossbred heifers with an average age of 15 months and were distributed into three groups as uniformly as possible with regard to age and body weight. The dietary treatments TI, T2, and T3 were randomly allotted to each group. The three dietary treatments were Tl - control diet (concentrate mixture + straw) as per ICAR recommendations, T2 - control diet supplemented with 0.5 kg ground maize and T3 - control diet supplemented with 1 kg ground maize. The animals maintained on the three dietary treatments Tl , T2 and T3 showed an average daily body weight gain of 535.47,602.15 and 631.18 g respectively during the experimental period of 155 days. Statistical analysis of the body weight gain showed no significant difference between the three dietary treatment groups. The average daily dry matter intake was significantly higher (Pin the animals maintained on T3 ration compared to Tl and 1'2. However the dry matter intake as percentage of body weight remained similar in the heifers fed the three experimental diets. The energy supplementation did not seem to have any effect on the feed to gain and protein efficiency ratios of the crossbred heifers. Energy supplementation to the crossbred heifers had no effect on any of the rumen fermentation characteristics as pH, total volatile fatty acid concentration and ammonia nitrogen concentration of the rumen liquor.• The plasma levels of calcium and phosphorus also remained similar for the animals maintained on the three dietary treatments. A significant increase in the digestibilities of dry matter (P<0.05) and crude protein (Pobserved in the animals supplemented with maize at 0.5 (12) and 1 kg (T3) levels as an energy source compared to the control (TI). However the digestibilities of ether extract, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre remained unaffected by the extra energy supplementation. An improved reproductive performance was exhibited by the animals maintained on T3 ration. The cost of feed for producing unit gain was almost similar for the three dietary treatments. Thus a critical assessment of the overall results obtained during the course of the present study did not reveal any significant effect of energy supplementation on the growth, feed efficiency, rumen fermentation characteristics and the plasma levels of calcium and phosphorus. However, energy supplementation improved the dry matter and crude protein digestibilities. The reproductive performance of the animals was also better in the high energy supplemented group.
Effect of supplementation of dried yeast (Nutramix - Mdy) on growth performance of pre- ruminant calves
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2002) Asitha, T V; Mercy, A D
An experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary supplementation of dried yeast (''Neutramix-MDY'') on growth performance of pre-ruminant calves. Twelve calves of one week to one month of age were distributed into two groups of six calves each, as uniformly as possible with regard to age, sex and body weight, with one group receiving the control diet (calf starter, grass and milk) and the other group receiving dried yeast ("Neutramix-MDY") @ 20g/day along with the control diet. The final body weight (kg) and average daily gain (g/day) were 72.5 and 247 for control group and 76.2 and 284 for treatment group during the trial period. Though there was no statistically significant difference between the control and the treatment group, there was a numerical increase in both the parameters in treatment animals. The average feed to gain ratio was 4.94 and 4.60 for the control and treatment group respectively. There was no improvement in dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre digestibilities in yeast fed group over the control. Haematological parameters such as blood glucose, plasma protein, calcium and phosphorus were unaffected by the dietary treatment. The above results indicate that supplementation of yeast culture to the diets of pre- ruminant calves had no statistically significant effect on animal performance.
Energy supplementation on production performance of cows under field condition
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2008) Ruby Agustian; Mercy, A D
A study was conducted to assess the effect of energy supplementation in the form of maize and rumen protected fat in early lactating cows under the field condition. Thirty, early lactating cross bred cows were selected and divided into three groups uniformly with regard to days in milk, the average days in milk being 40 days. The animals were randomly allotted to the dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3. The concentrate mix made in the semi liquid form and paddy straw formed the T1 ration. The animals of T2 and T3 were supplemented with 1 kg ground maize and 100 g of rumen protected fat respectively, over and above the control ration. The animals maintained on the three dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3 showed an average milk production of 15.38, 14.58 and 13.01 kg respectively during the 90 day period of the experiment. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in milk yield between the three treatment groups. The average daily DMI and DMI/100 kg body weight remained similar for all the three groups. The TDN intake was up to the requirement in animals maintained on T3 ration while T1 and T2 rations could not meet the requirements of the animals of the respective groups. The DCP intake was optimum from the three rations. The energy supplementation did not affect milk composition such as percentage of total solids, milk fat, solids not fat (SNF) and milk protein, and milk urea nitrogen (MUN). The 4 per cent FCM yield, total yield of milk fat and protein remained unaffected by energy supplementation. Animals in all the three groups showed similar blood parameters such as haemoglobin, plasma glucose, plasma urea nitrogen and plasma Ca and P. The digestibility of EE, DM, NDF and ADF was higher for the T3 ration than that of T1 and T2. The digestibility of crude protein (CP) was higher for T2 than T1 and T3 rations. Animals maintained on T3 ration showed earlier post partum heat. The cost of feed for producing 1 kg milk was higher for the dietary treatments T2 and T3. An overall assessment of the results obtained in the present study showed that energy supplementation in the form of either maize or rumen protected fat could not influence dry matter intake, milk yield and 4 per cent FCM yield. There was no change in the composition of milk and blood parameters studied, among the experimental animals. However, energy supplementation in the form of protected fat could meet the energy requirement of early lactating animals, improved the digestibility of EE, DM, NDF and ADF and positively influenced the first post partum heat.
Evaluation of silk worm pupae meal on growth performance in large white yokshire pigs
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Ramamoorthi, S; Mercy, A D
An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of silk worm pupae meal, a by-product from sericulture industry, on growth, feed conversion efficiency and economics of production in growing pigs. Twenty seven weaned Large White Yorkshire female piglets with an average body weight of 16 kg were selected from University Pig Breeding Farm, Mannuthy and were divided into three groups of nine piglets each, as uniformly as possible with regard to their age and body weight. The piglets were then randomly allotted to three pens to form three replicates per treatment. The three groups of piglets were maintained for 90 days on three isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets T ir Tj and Tj in which protein from unsalted dried fish was replaced by silk worm pupae meal at 0, 50 and 100 per cent level. The animals maintained under the three dietary treatments T w Ta and T, had almost similar growth rate (P>0.05) with a cumulative average daily gain of 481.4, 510.1 and 495.7g. respectively. The total feed intakes of the animals in different groups were almost similar. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in cumulative feed conversion efficiency between the groups, the values being 3.78, 3.63 and 3.62, respectively, for animals in the dietary treatments Tlt T 2 and T 3. The digestibility coefficients of nutrients except that of ether extract, were slightly higher for the control, ration compared to those with silk worm pupae meal. The cost of production per kilogram live weight gain of pigs maintained on the three dietary treatments, T x, T2 and T3 were Rs. 31.46, 29.19 and 28.20 respectively. Though there was a slight decrease in the cost of production due to incorporation of silk worm pupae meal in place of unsalted dried fish in swine ration, the difference was non significant (P>0.05). The above results indicate that silk worm pupae meal can be effectively included in the diets of growing pigs without affecting growth, feed conversion efficiency and the cost of production.
Growth performance of broiler chicken fed on fermented fish waste silage ration
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Smitha, N F; Mercy, A D
An investigation spread over a period of six weeks was carried out to study the effect of replacing unsalted dried fish with fermented fish waste silage on nutrient utilization and growth performance in broiler chicken. One hundred and eighty day-old broiler chicks (Vencob) were divided into three identical groups having five replicates in each group with 12 birds in each replicate and allotted randomly into three dietary treatments viz., T1, T2 and T3. The three groups of birds were maintained on isonitrogenous and isocaloric rations in which protein of unsalted dried fish was replaced by protein from fermented fish waste silage at 0, 50 and 100 per cent levels. Birds were fed broiler starter rations up to four weeks of age and then they were switched to broiler finisher rations till the end of the experiment. The birds maintained on the three dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3 had almost similar growth rate (P>0.05) with a cumulative mean body weight gain of 1401.45, 1434.48 and 1491.31 g, respectively. The cumulative feed intake and cumulative feed conversion efficiency did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between treatments, the cumulative feed conversion efficiency being 2.12, 2.08 and 2.09, respectively for the birds of T1, T2 and T3. Nitrogen retention and balance were similar for the diets T1, T2 and T3. The retention and balance of calcium and phosphorus were also similar. Serum calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol, glucose, creatinine and uric acid contents were not significantly influenced by the inclusion of fermented fish waste silage. Serum triglyceride was significantly reduced (P<0.05) in T2 and T3 when compared to that of T1. Birds maintained on T3 registered significantly lower (P<0.05) ready-to-cook yield when compared to T1 fed on control diet. The cost of feed per kg gain of birds in the three dietary treatments was Rs. 20.15, 19.83 and 19.73, respectively. Overall evaluation of the results of the present study revealed that fermented fish waste silage could be used economically as a substitute for unsalted dried fish in the ration of broilers on protein basis, without any adverse effect on growth rate and feed conversion efficiency, while, the ready-to-cook yield tended to be lower in birds receiving diets with 100 per cent fermented fish silage.
Influence of level and degradability of dietry protein on early lactation in crossbred cows
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 2003) Ally, K; Mercy, A D
Organic chromium supplementation on growth of cross bred pigs
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2007) Ann Nisa Thomas; Mercy, A D
An investigation was carried out with the objective to determine the effect of chromium as chromium propionate on the growth of cross bred pigs and to evaluate the economics of organic chromium supplementation in the ration of cross bred pigs. Twenty four weaned piglets (12 male and 12 female) with an average body weight of 18 kg were used as experimental animals. The piglets were randomly divided into two groups with six replicates of two piglets in each group and were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments T1 (control diet) and T2 (control + 200 ppb chromium). The pigs were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and later on at fortnightly intervals. Blood samples were collected in the beginning and at the end of the experiment for the analysis of various biochemical parameters. Digestion trial was conducted at the end of the experiment to determine the digestibility coefficient of the nutrients of the experimental diets. Animals in the two dietary treatments showed similar (p>0.05) body weight gain, average daily body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. There was a numerical increase in dry matter and crude protein digestibility of Cr supplemented ration. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the animals in the two groups for all the blood parameters studied except phosphorus and cholesterol, which were significantly lower (p<0.05) for T2 group. There was non-significant decrease in triglycerides and increase in HDL cholesterol level. The overall critical evaluation of the results obtained in the present study indicate that though supplementation of chromium propionate did not affect the growth or feed conversion efficiency of growing (Large White Yorkshire X Desi) cross bred pigs, it can be beneficially used to improve the lipid profile of the cross bred pigs.
Phytase supplementation on the availability of different minerals and their interactions in pigs
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2009) Shyama, K; Mercy, A D
Studies on the nutrient requirements of kids
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1979) Mercy, A D; Sivaraman, E
An investigation was carried out to find out the nutrient requirements for optimum growth in kids. Twenty four Alpine – Malabari crossbred kids of 3 4 months of age formed the experimental subjects for the study. The animals, divided into three identical groups (groups 1, 11 and 111), were maintained on three different levels of nutrient intake for over a total period of 4 ½ months, the parameters recorded during the course of the study being average daily body weight gain, drymatter intake, feed conversion efficiency, digestibility coefficients of nutrients, nitrogen balance, mineral balance and haematological constituents. The average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency recorded for animals in the three groups 1, 11 and 111 were found to be 63.7 + 5.3, 64.4 + 5.0 and 67.6 + 2.0 g and 7.0 + 0.7, 7.5 + 0.5 and 7.9 + 0.3 respectively. The average drymatter consumption of animals were 3.1 + 0.2, 3.5 + 0.3 and 3.6 + 0.3 kg per 100 kg body weight respectively for the three groups 1, 11 and 111. The data collected for the haematological constituents were found to lies within the normal range for the species indicating that all the animals under the three dietary regimes were maintaining normal and sound nutritional status. The requirements arrived at for protein and energy for unit gain in body weight were 0.86 + 0.06 0.90 + 0.06 and 0.89 + 0.03 kg D. C. P. and 4.84 + 0.4, 5.20 + 0.30 and 5.31 + 0.19 kg T. D. N. for the animals in groups 1, 11 and 111 respectively. The requirements of D. C. P., T.D. N., calcium and Phosphorus arrived at from the results obtained during the course of the experiment are considered optimum for normal growth in Alpine – Malabari crossbred kids.
Utilisation of dried cuttle fish (Sepia officialis) waste silage for growth in crossbred (large white yorkshire x desi) pigs
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 2003) Sakthivel, P C; Mercy, A D
An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of dried cuttle fish waste silage, on growth, feed conversion efficiency, digestibility of nutrients, carcass characteristics and economics of gain in growing and finishing pigs. Fifteen male and fifteen female weaned crossbred (Large White Yorkshire x Desi, 50 per cent) piglets with an average body weight of 13.50 kg were divided into three homogeneous groups of ten piglets in each, with regard to age, sex and body weight. The three groups of piglets were maintained for 152 days on three isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets T1, T2 and T3 in which crude protein from unsalted dried fish was replaced by the protein of dried cuttle fish waste silage at 0, 50 and 100 per cent level. The piglets on the three groups were fed their respective grower rations which contained 18 per cent crude protein and 3200 kcal digestible energy per kg until they attained an average body weight of 50 kg and thereafter changed to finisher rations containing 14 per cent crude protein and 3100 kcal digestible energy per kg until the animals were slaughtered. A digestibility trial was conducted towards the end of the experiment using chromic oxide added at 0.05 per cent to each diet as external indicator. At the end of the experiment six animals from each treatment were slaughtered randomly to study the carcass characteristics. The animals maintained under the three dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3 had almost similar growth rate (P>0.05) with a cumulative average daily gain of 370.31, 353.15 and 364.90 g, respectively. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in cumulative feed conversion efficiency between groups, the values being 4.16, 4.28 and 4.26 for the three dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3, respectively. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter and crude protein were higher for the diets T3 and T1 than that of T2, respectively. The digestibility coefficients of ether extract, crude fibre and nitrogen free extract were similar for the three diets T1, T2 and T3. Dressing percentage and carcass characteristics such as carcass length, back fat thickness, loin eye area, meat percentage and meat bone ratio were not significantly influenced by the inclusion of dried cuttle fish waste silage. The cost of feed per kg live weight gain of pigs in the three dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3 were Rs.35.15, 34.40 and 32.25, respectively. The dietary treatments T2 and T3 were economically efficient at 2 and 8 per cent over T1.The above results indicate that the dried cuttle fish waste silage can be used economically as a substitute for unsalted dried fish in the rations of growing and finishing pigs on protein basis, without any adverse effect on growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, digestibility of nutrients and carcass characteristics.