Influence of rearing technique on growth rate, metabolic activity and characteristics of the digestive tract in buffalo calves
Abstract: Sixteen suckling male buffalo calves, one week old, were assigned to two groups according to their live body weight (LBW). The first group G I (Control; n=6; 38.5 ±2.53 kg) was raised on whole milk from birth to the 15th week of age, thereafter calves were fed dry feed only until slaughter at 195 days of age. The second group G2 (milk-fed; n=l0; 37.4 ± 1.96 kg) was raised the same as control until the 15th week of age then fed daily on 1 kg of whole milk/calf until slaughter at 188.2 days of age. Both groups received calf starter (ad libitum), berseem and wheat straw allover the trial. Blood samples were collected from the experimental animals for assessment of the metabolic activity. Anatomical and histological study was undertaken on the digestive tract of three calves from each group. The results indicated that prolonged milk feeding resulted in increased daily weight gain (DWG) (P<0.01) and relative growth rate (RGR) (P<0.05) of G2 in comparison with that of G I. No abundant differences in metabolic parameters of both groups were detected. The fresh tissue weight of the digestive tract was insignificantly higher in G2 compared with that of G I. A significant (P<0.05) greater thickness of lamina epithelial is was noticed in rumen tissue of G2 accompanied by a highly significant (P<0.01) thickness of tunica muscularis and ruminal wall. The omasal structure of G2 indicated that continued milk feeding might altered the capacity and function of omasum.
It can be concluded that prolonged milk feeding of calves may be beneficial for buffalo veal production while, it is not advantageous for raising calves as breeding animals.
Keywords: Buffalo calves, rearing technique, growth, metabolism, digestive tract characteristics
Publication year 2011
Pages 42-57
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City الجيزة
serial title Proceeding of the 4th Animal Wealth Research Conference in the Middle East & North Africa Foreign Agricultural Relations (FAR)
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Nutrition
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Growth. Growth rate. Metabolism. Performance testing. Rearing techniques.
Proposed Agrovoc digestive tract characteristic;Buffalo calves;prolonged milk feeding;
Publication Type Conference/Workshop
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