Comparative response of hay versus green fodder feeding and loose versus barn housing on labor utilization and economics of rearing in murrah buffalo heifers Saini A. K.1, Singh Ram2,*, Dall J.S3 Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Animal Sciences, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004, Haryana 1Senoir Technical Officer, ICAR-CIRB, Sub Campus, Nabha 2Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIRB, Hisar 3Ex-District Extension Specialist (AS), Krishi Gyan Kendra, The Mall, Karnal *Correspondence: carirsingh@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 9 September, 2022. Abstract The study was undertaken to investigate the effect of hay versus green fodder and loose versus barn house on labor utilization and economics of rearing of buffalo heifers. Twenty heifers based on similar body weight (BW) and age were divided into four treatments; T1: conventional barn housing+ berseem hay and concentrate mixture (CM); T2: conventional barn housing+ berseem green fodder and CM; T3: loose housing+ berseem green fodder and CM; and T4: loose housing+ berseem hay and CM. The interactive relationship between two housing and feeding systems was also studied. The cleaning time of sheds and feeding time was higher (P<0.05) in T1 and T2 compared to T3 and T4.The feeding time in T3 was higher (P<0.05) than that of T4.The watering time in T1 was higher (P<0.05) than those of T2, T3 and T4. The watering time in T2 was higher (P<0.05) than those of T3 and T4. The time spent for cleaning, feeding and watering in conventional barn was higher (P<0.05) as compared to loose housed heifers due to individual cleaning, feeding and watering of the animals. The total cost of raising a heifer was higher in T2 and T3as compared to those of T1 and T4 because of more concentrate feeding in T2 and T3 which increased the feed cost. The cost per kg BWG was higher in T2 and T3 as compared to T1 and T4. The cost per kg gain was the least in hay feeding along with loose housing (T4). It was concluded that the labour requirement for cleaning of sheds, feeding and watering to heifers was higher (P<0.05) in conventional barn than those housed in loose house and remained uninfluenced due to feeding systems.The total cost and cost per kg body weight gain was less in heifers raised under hay feeding along with loose housing. Top Keywords Barn housing, Green fodder, Hay, Labor utilization, Loose housing, Murrah heifer. Top |