No abstract

Estimates of (co)variance components were obtained for weights at birth, weaning and 6, 9 and 12 months of age in Chokla sheep maintained at the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan, India, over a period of 21 years (1980-2000). Records of 2030 lambs descended from 150 rams and 616 ewes were used in the study. Analyses were carried out by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) fitting an animal model and ignoring or including maternal genetic or permanent environmental effects. Six different animal models were fitted for all traits. The best model was chosen after testing the improvement of the log-likelihood values. Direct heritability estimates were inflated substantially for all traits when maternal effects were ignored. Heritability estimates for weight at birth, weaning and 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 0.20, 0.18, 0.16, 0.22 and 0.23, respectively in the best models. Additive maternal and maternal permanent environmental effects were both significant at birth, accounting for 9% and 12% of phenotypic variance, respectively, but the source of maternal effects (additive versus permanent environmental) at later ages could not be clearly identified. The estimated repeatabilities across years of ewe effects on lamb body weights were 0.26, 0.14, 0.12, 0.13, and 0.15 at birth, weaning, 6, 9 and 12 months of age, respectively. These results indicate that modest rates of genetic progress are possible for all weights.

Fifteen Bhadawari buffalo heifers of 207 ± 9.78 kg mean body weight were randomly distributed into three dietary groups to evaluate the effect of protein level on nutrient utilization, nitrogen (N) balance, growth rate, blood metabolites, and puberty. All animals were offered wheat straw-berseem diets supplemented with concentrate mixtures of similar energy (2.7 Mcal/kg) and different protein levels (14.3-22%). Animals of standard-protein group (SPG) were offered protein and energy as per requirement, while animals of low-protein group (LPG) and high-protein group (HPG) were fed 20% less and 20% more protein, respectively, than SPG. Feed dry matter (DM) and metabolizable energy (ME) intake (% body wt. and g/kg w(0.75)) were similar for all three diets; however, the crude protein (CP) and digestible crude protein (DCP) intake on percent body weight and per kilogram metabolic weight was higher (P < 0.05) in HPG than in SPG or LPG. Digestibility of CP, cellulose, and hemicellulose was higher (P < 0.05) in HPG versus LPG. Fecal N excretion was similar, while urinary N excretion was highest (P < 0.05) in HPG (74.83 g/day) compared with SPG (50.03 g/day) and LPG (47.88 g/day), which resulted in lower N retention in HPG than in the other dietary groups. Level of dietary N had no effect on blood metabolites viz. glucose, urea, and N. Digestible energy (DE) and ME contents of diets were identical, while DCP contents were higher (P < 0.05) in HPG than in LPG. Feed and nutrient (CP and ME) conversion efficiency to produce a unit kilogram weight gain was identical among the dietary groups. Dietary protein level had no effect on the heifer's weight and age at puberty. The mean growth rate of heifers at 240 days was higher (P > 0.05) in SPG (330.8 g/day) than in LPG (296.7 g/day), while the animals gained more weight in January to March months and the lowest weight in May to July months. Protein level had no effect on conception rate of heifers. Results revealed that 20% higher or less protein than the ICAR requirement had no significant (P > 0.05) on feed intake, nutrient conversion efficiency for weight gain, heifer growth, and puberty; however, 20% more protein increased urinary N loss.

resulta adecuada para las regiones donde se practica normalmente la migración. La raza Chokla se halla entre las razas indias ovinas buenas productoras de lana fina. La lana producida por los animales Chokla es heterogénea en cuanto a calidad y viene normalmente mezclada con lana gruesa de otras ovejas para la confección de alfombras de lana.

Milk fatty acid composition of Murrah buffaloes was determined in present study. Samples were collected from 10 lactating buffaloes and were analysed for fatty acid profile using AOCS official method. Murrah milk fat was having 71.6% saturated fatty acids (SFA), 27.97% unsaturated fatty acids. C16:0, C18:1c, C18:0, C14:0 and C12:0 were the five most abundant fatty acid (82.5% of total fatty acids) in the Murrah milk. Palmitic acid, myristic acid (14:0) and stearic acid (18:0) together constituted approximately 85.8% of saturated fatty acids by weight. Short chain fatty acids (C4:0, C6:0), medium chain fatty acids (C8:0, C10:0, C12:0), and long chain fatty acids (C16:0, C18:0, C16:1, C18:2) were 1.82, 4.56 and 49.96 g/100 g respectively. Mono-unsaturated fatty acid were 26.79% of the fatty acids in milk, mostly oleic acid (18:1). Poly-unsaturated fatty acids constitute about 1.18% by weight of the total fatty acids. Linoleic acid (18:2) and α-linolenic acid (18:3) accounted for 0.88 and 0.30% by weight of the total fatty acids.