The present investigation was carried out to study dairy animal housing practices followed by dairy animal owners in the Anand district of middle Gujarat region. The data were collected from randomly selected 120 dairy animal owners interviewed personally with a well-prepared questionnaire. The study revealed that all the respondents provided housing shelter with the all-time placement of their animals in the house. Majority of respondents (74.17%) constructed animal sheds nearby their own house followed by 25.83% were at a distance from farmer's house. It was found that 64.17% of animal houses were oriented in east-west while 35.83% respondents had houses in a north-south orientation. The respondents provided pucca floor (63.33%) and galvanized iron sheets as a roofing material (49.17%) in their animal sheds, whereas 34.17% farmers had no provision of the wall in their animal sheds. The vast majority of respondents (85.00%) had the provision of good ventilation in their animal sheds and 72.50 % of the respondents had the provision of artificial light in their animal houses. Majority of dairy animal owners (72.50%) kept distance between manure pits and their animal sheds and 66.67 % respondents had provision and practice to protect animals from extreme weather. About 1/5th respondents used a curtain to reduce cold and very few owners (5.00%) provided bedding material to their animals. It was concluded that dairy animal owners of Anand district possess better knowledge regarding animal housing management and follow different practices of scientific animal husbandry.

The present study was conducted to assess the effect of roof on body weight and feed intake of sheared and non-sheared sheep under stall feeding system in the hot dry season. Adult dry indigenous sheep (24) were distributed randomly into two treatment groups, i.e., T1: asbestos roof and T2: agro - net roof. Each treatment comprised of six sheared and six non-sheared animals. Sheep were provided with total mixed ration in morning, afternoon and night individually. The bodyweight of sheared (31.87 ± 2.14, 31.96 ± 1.55 kg) and non-sheared (32.16 ± 1.59, 32.42 ± 1.42 kg) animals was comparable between roof treatments. The experimental animals reared under agro-net roofed shelter consumed significantly (p less than 0.05) more dry matter and nutrients as compared to animals reared under asbestos roofed shelter. Dry matter and nutrient intake of sheared sheep were significantly (p less than 0.05) higher as compared to non-sheared sheep under agronet and asbestos roofed shelter. The results indicated that the sheep can be reared comfortably under agronet roof without affecting feed and nutrient intake.

The effect of roofing material on hemato-biochemical, hormonal and antioxident parameters of sheared and non-sheared sheep was invastigated. Twenty four adult dry indigenous sheep were distributed randomly on the basis of body weight (20-35 kg) into two roof treatment groups, i.e., T1: asbestos roof and T2: agronet roof. Each treatment comprised of six sheared and six non-sheared animals. Hemoglobin (g/dL) and PCV (%) concentrations of sheep were comparable between roof treatments and between shearing practices. Serum glucose level was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in sheared and non sheared sheep reared under asbestose roof (44.76 ± 0.31, 45.29 ± 0.31 mg/dl) than the agronet roof shelter (43.78 ± 0.31, 43.46 ± 0.33 mg/dl). Serum uric acid level was significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased in sheared animals reared under agronet roofed shelter as compared to non-sheared animals reared under abstestos roofed shelter (0.41 ± 0.05 vs. 0.55 ± 0.06 mg/dL). Serum urea and creatinine levels of sheared sheep were lower than non-sheared ones under both the roofing materials with significant difference only in creatinine. The serum levels of hormone T3 and cortisol were statistically similar between roof treatments and shearing practices, whereas serum T4 was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in sheared animals (37.19 ± 3.17 ng/ml) reared under asbestos roofed shelter compared to agronet. Glutathione peroxidase activity was increased significantly (p less than 0.05) in sheared and non-sheared animals reared under asbestos roofed shelter, whereas superoxide dismutase activity decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) in sheared animals under agronet roof (5.73 ± 0.27 U/ml). However, lipid hydroperoxide, catalase and heat shock protein 70 activity were neither influenced significantly by roofing materials nor by shearing practices. The results indicated the role of effective roofing material of shelter and shearing plans in reducing the effect of heat stress on sheared and unsheared sheep.

Small ruminants are an integral part of farming systems in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. These areas are characterized by fluctuating precipitation, water scarcity and unpredictable weather. Irregular rainfall of these areas leads to limited availability of water (Iniguez, 2005). Under water stress conditions, the transfer function of the kidney is altered (Kataria et al., 2007) which consequently increases the levels of urea and creatinine in blood (Igbokwe, 1993 andJaber et al., 2004).Water restriction in warm environment leads to increased haemoglobin level due to haemoconcentration (Li et al., 2000). The study (Casamassima et al., 2008) carried out on water-restricted Comisana sheep revealed a significant increase of some blood metabolites like sodium, creatinine, urea and potassium. In this attempt, the present work was undertaken to investigate the selected

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Present study was conducted to assess effect of floor types on behaviour of Surti goats under stall-feeding system in cold, hot dry and hot humid seasons. Adult dry Surti goats (27) were divided randomly on body weight (20-30 kg) basis in three treatment groups (T1: earthen floor, T2: brick floor and T3: cement concrete floor). In each treatment, six goats were selected for behavioural observations. Different behavioural patterns exhibited by goats were recorded continuously for 24 h by mini PTZ IR camera in each experimental phase. Time spent in each of the behavioural categories were recorded, i.e. feeding, drinking, standing, lying, moving and agonistic behaviour. Feeding time (min./d) was significantly higher in goats reared on brick (319.83±17.58) and cement concrete (316.22±16.02) floor but dry matter intake (g/min.) (2.92±0.11) was significantly higher in goats reared on earthen floor. Standing time (min./d) in covered area was significantly higher on brick floor. Time spent by goats for lying (min./d) in covered area on earthen (712.17±51.92) and cement concrete (855.83±20.19) floor was comparable but significantly higher as compared to brick floor (338.56±70.98). Time spent for lying (min./d) in covered area was significantly higher in summer season (786.78±45.02). Irrespective of floor and season, goats spent maximum time for lying (55.49%), standing (22.52%) and feeding (21.07%) whereas minimum time spent for other activities. The results indicated that earthen and cement concrete floor were better in terms of welfare and comfort level of goats under stall-fed rearing system.

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