Browsing by Author "Ramachandran, P"

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Effect of fish meal on growth and feed conversion efficiency in crossbred calves
(Department of Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Subramanian, R; Ramachandran, P
An investigation spread over a period of 126 days was carried out to assess the effect of fish meal in concentrate mixtures of calves for growth. Eighteen crossbred calves of 5-7 months of age and about 70 kg mean initial body weight, divided into three identical groups formed the experimental subjects. The calves in groups I, II and III were maintained on concentrate mixtures containing 0 (diet A) , 5 (diet B) and 10 (diet C) per cent respectively of fish meal along with grass hay fed ad libitum as the sole roughage. Data on body weight and body measurements, feed conversion efficiency, digestibility of nutrients, haematological values and economics of feeding of the calves were the criteria employed for the evaluation. The intake of DM, CP, DCP and TDN (g/kg metabolic body weight) were not significantly different among the animals in three groups. The digestibility coefficients of crude protein and ether extract were significantly higher in animals of group I than in those of groups II and III. The average daily gain in body weight were 487, 500 and 554 g respectively for the animals in groups I, II and III respectively and the increase in growth response was linearly and positively correlated to the level of fish meal in the diet. Although, body measurements did not reveal any significant difference among the groups, the slightly higher values obtained in group III indicated that calves fed diet containing 10 per cent fish meal had higher skeletal and muscle growth than those fed diets A and B. Highest feed and protein conversion efficiency were shown by calves of group III fed fish meal at 10 per cent level in the diet followed by those in group II and I. Diet C containing 10 per cent fish meal in the concentrate mixture was proved to be most cost effective. Though the haematological parameters did not reveal any significant difference among the groups, the slightly higher value for plasma protein obtained for animals in group III indicated the relatively better nutritional status of animals maintained on diet C over the animals on diet A and B. An overall critical assessment of the results clearly indicated that fish meal can be included in calf ration at 10 per cent level in partial replacement of vegetable protein supplements like groundnut oil cake, with beneficial results in terms of biological and economic efficiency.
Nutritive evaluation of prawn waste -paddy straw silage in cattle
(Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1994) Jose James; Ramachandran, P
Prawn waste was ensiled with chopped paddy straw in equal proportions (1:1 wet basis) using 10 per cent tapioca flour as additive for a period of 50 days. The same proportions of ingredients were mixed and ensiled in smaller silos for 21 days to study the silage characteristics. The prawn waste – paddy straw silage formed after both the periods of ensiling were similar with a characteristic brownish colour and desirable aroma and had no evidence of any fungal growth. Ensiling resulted in an increase in fibre fractions and decrease in crude protein contents, with significant (P < 0.01) differences in nutrient levels between silages after 21 days and 50 days of fermentation. The water soluble carbohydrate content and pH declined significantly (P < 0.01) over different periods of ensiling. The volatile fatty acid proportion in prawn waste – paddy straw silage was optimum after 21 days of fermentation, acetic acid being the predominant one. With increase in period of ensiling, acetic acid levels declined while butyric acid levels increased about five fold, without any change in propionic acid concentration. Trimethylamine levels showed a significant (P < 0.01) increase after different periods of ensiling. Three digestion experiments (Trial 1, 11 and 111) were carried out using six, adult, dry, nonpregnant cows with grass hay (basal ration) alone, grass hay plus paddy straw and grass hay plus prawn waste – paddy straw silage respectively. The overall results of the feeding experiments indicated that prawn waste – paddy straw silage is relished and well digested by cattle as evidenced by a relatively higher feed intake and digestibility coefficients of nutrients. A critical evaluation of the results obtained during the course of the present investigation indicated that prawn waste can be satisfactorily ensiled with paddy straw and tapioca flour as additive and that the material can form a potential alternate feed source for cattle, worth studying in detail.
Studies on growth response, feed efficiency and carcas characteristics of pigs reared up to different market weight on two dietary treatments
(Department of Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1977) Ramachandran, P; Sivaraman, E
A detailed investigation was carried out to study the growth rate, feed efficiency, carcass quality and economics of production of fattening pigs maintained on two dietary treatments differing in protein levels and reared upto three different body weights. Thirtysix weaner pigs of Large White Yorkshire breed belonging to the University Pig Breeding Farm, Mannuthy were distributed under two dietary treatments and divided into three groups 1, 11 and 111 of six animals each, the animals in the three groups being slaughtered at body weights of 55, 70 and 85 kg.respectively. Higher dietary protein level of 18 per cent promoted better weight gains in pigs during the initial period of their growth. Lowering of protein level in the finishing ration reduced the weight gain and feed efficiency of the animals. A dietary protein level of 16 per cent throughout the feeding period brought about linear increase in overall average daily gain at all body weights studied. Though the protein level does not seem to influence any of the carcass characteristics studied, the dressing percentage, carcass length, backfat thickness and eyemuscle area are positively correlated with body weights under both the dietary treatments. Fat constants are not affected either by protein levels or by live weights. The overall results obtained during the course of the present investigation indicate that the unit cost of production of fattening pigs is least at 55 kg live weight on the dietary treatment A having 18 – 16 – 14 per cent protein and at 85 kg live weight on the dietary treatment B having 16 per cent protein level throughout.