Impact of different housing modification systems on growth performance and feed intake of Gir calves during winter season

Abstract

© Abstract: The current study was carried out to investigate the impact of different housing modification systems on growth performance and feed intake of Gir calves during winter season. Selected 24 Gir calves of 12 months old were randomly divided into three homogenous modified housing groups containing with eight calves in each viz., group GC-1: conventional barn (during night) + open paddock (during day), GC-2: conventional barn + rubber mat and GC-3: loose house + curtains (during night). The concentrate supplement was given 1.5 kg/calve/day as pellet feed, green lucerne ( Medicago sativa ) 2.5 kg/calve/day and wheat straw ( Triticum aestivum ) ad lib as dry fodder . During the statistical analysis, the mean of morning minimum temperature (P<0.05) was higher in GC-2 (11.81 o C) over than GC-3 (11.27 o C) and GC-1 (10.64 o C) and the morning maximum temperature was significantly higher in GC-3 (22.97 o C), which was above than groups GC-2 (22.39 o C) and GC-1 (22.21 o C). However, the mean value of the evening minimum temperature was significantly lower in GC-1 (11.67 o C) followed by GC-3 (11.86 o C) and GC-2 (12.40 o C) and the evening maximum temperature was highest in GC-1 (24.95 o C) followed by GC-3 (23.98 o C) and GC-2 (23.54 o C). The average mean of both relative humidity (RH) percent and temperature humidity index (THI) along with morning and evening times was (P<0.05) higher in GC-2 than GC-1 and GC-3 groups. However, total dry matter intake, voluntary water intake and feed conversion efficiency were significantly higher in the GC-1 group compared to the calves in the GC-2 and GC-3 groups. The initial body weight of the claves was similar as 122.37, 121.13 and 121.88 kg in GC-1, GC-2 and GC-3 groups. However, the final body weight of the calves was significantly (P<0.05) highest in group GC-1 (170.12 kg) followed by GC-2 (163.61 kg) and GC-3 (162.36 kg) respectively. The average daily weight gain was significantly achieved by GC-1 (530.90 g/day) followed by GC-2 (472.05 g/ day) and GC-3 (449.88 g/day). It was concluded that the housing modification system can be effectively used to improve the growth performance, feed intake and sheds micro-climate of Gir calves during the winter