Influence of management systems on growth of Malabari goats

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of . management systems on growth of Malabari goats. Thirty Malabari kids aged three to four months of age were selected randomly and allotted to three treatments. Kids under treatment I were fed complete feed and managed intensively. Animals under treatment II and III, were maintained under Intensive and Semi-intensive systems. Animals maintained on complete feed registered a better growth rate from second to fourth month. Whereas animals in Semi-intensive system showed a better final growth. Body weight was significantly influenced by the period in all the treatments. Kids under Semi-intensive system showed a better height and length, whereas kid, under Intensive system showed a better girth measurement. In morphometric observations females had a significantly higher value compared to males. The body measurements also showed a significant difference between fortnights and it increased with age, in all three treatments. The experimental period was divided into hot-dry and rainy periods based on climatological observations. Physiological norms like rectal temperature, heart rate and respiration rate showed significantly higher rates in animals kept under Semi-intensive system of management. A highly significant difference in the diurnal observations in the physiological

norms were noted. But there was no sexual dimorphism in physiological norms. There was no significant difference in haemoglobin level between treatments and between seasons. The goats fed on feed under Intensive management system showed a better dressing percentage but there was no significant difference in other carcass traits between treatments.