The effect of environmental enrichment on levering aggressive behaviour of the weaned piglets was assessed in piglets. Forty-eight Large White Yorkshire (LWY) weaned piglets of either sex was selected and are grouped in to eight with 6 animals each. The treatments are, piglets weaned at 35 days on concrete floor of 9 sq.m (1mx1.5m) (T1-control), piglets weaned at 45 days on concrete floor of 9 sq.m (1mx1.5m) (T2-control), Piglets weaned at 35 days on concrete floor of 6 sq.m (1mx1m) (T3), Piglets weaned at 45 days on concrete floor of 6 sq.m (1mx1m) (T4), Enrichment of piglets weaned at 35 days with paddy straw for 2.5 cm on concrete floor (T5), Enrichment of piglets weaned at 45 days with paddy straw for 2.5 cm on concrete floor (T6), Enrichment of piglets weaned at 35 days with free balls on concrete floor (T7) and Enrichment of piglets weaned at 45 days with free balls on concrete floor (T8). In piglets weaned at 35 days, the duration of levering behaviour was longest in T 3 (175.67 ±3.25 s) and lowest in T 5 (48.33 ±3.13 s), followed by T 7 (61.83 ±3.83 s) in day one. However, T 5 and T 7 showed significantly lower duration compared to T 1 and T 3 (P<0.01). In piglets weaned at 45 days significant difference existed in the duration and frequency of levering behaviour throughout 14 days. However, T 6 and T 8 showed significantly lower duration compared to T 2 and T 4 (P<0.05). Enriching barren pens with straw and balls had minimized the aggressive encounters between pigs while increasing duration of exploration on substrates.
In dairy cattle, bedding and its management contribute predominantly to the comfort of the cow, udder health and milk quality. The aim of the study is to assess the
In dairy cattle, bedding and its management contribute predominantly to the comfort of the cow, udder health and milk quality. The aim of the study is to assess the effect of different bedding materials such as concrete floor, rubber mats, coir pith and dried solid manure on microbial counts in milk and bedding materials in crossbred dairy cows. Twentyfour crossbred cows with six animals in each group at cattle farm was selected for the study for one lactation period spread over three different seasons. The control group (T 1 ) was maintained in concrete floor without any bedding materials. In (T 2 ) rubber mats of 1.2 m × 1.8 m × 0.025m area were provided on concrete floor. In (T 3 ) coir pith and (T 4 ) Dried solid manure (DSM) on concrete floor was the bedding. The aerobic plate count (APC), coliform count (CC) and total yeast and mould count (TYMC)were assessed in bedding materials to determine the microbial counts.Concrete
The current research was carried out to assess the effect of various bedding material on thermal image analysis and yield of milk in dairy cows. Twenty four crossbred cows at the Cattle farm of the Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, Pookode, Wayanad District in Kerala state formed the group in the present research for one lactation period including three seasons viz., summer (February to May), monsoon (June to September) and post monsoon (October to January). T1 was the control group in which the cows were maintained on concrete floor with no bedding material. Rubber mats (T2 ) and coir pith (T3 ) were provided on concrete floor. In T4 Dried solid manure (DSM) on concrete floor was provided at the rate of 7.5 cm thickness as bedding. Thermal image analysis of the heat generated from the animal body, surface of the floor and roof was recorded. The cows maintained on concrete floors (37.79 ± 0.21 oC) and rubber mats (37.56 ± 0.28 oC) generated significantly higher (P<0.05) amounts of heat followed by those kept on DSM (28.49 ± 0.28 oC) and coir pith (25.46 ± 0.26o C). The floor and roof temperatures were higher during summer and post monsoon and lower in the monsoon season. Daily milk yields from the experimental animals were recorded and analysed. The cows maintained on concrete floor had the lowest overall daily milk yield (8.95 ± 0.22) while the cows on coir pith bedding had the highest yield (9.98 ± 0.30). The cows on DSM and rubber mats had an overall mean milk yield of 9.48 ± 0.22 and 9.26 ± 0.20 kg, respectively. Coir pith and dried solid manure as bedding material could be recommended for use by dairy farmers when compared to rubber mats and concrete floor bedding for improving cow comfort and milk production.
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