Study on the Evaluation of the Improved Feeders on the Performance and Behaviour of Goat Kids Raised Under Stall Fed Conditions

Abstract

The present study entitled “Study on the evaluation of the improved feeders on the performance and behaviour of goat kids raised under stall fed condition” was conducted at Instructional Livestock Farm Complex (ILFC) unit II, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Modipuram, India. Fifteen barbari goat kids housed under uniform managemental conditions were taken during the study. The experimental animals were randomly divided in to 3 groups, i.e group 1 (grazing with supplementation), group 2 (conventional feeders) and group 3 (improved feeders) consisting of 5 animals in each group based on their body weight. Before starting the experiment, 10 days of adjustment period was given to the experimental animals. The experimental animals of all groups were weighed at fortnightly intervals for the period of 7 fortnights. The overall mean bodyweight of barbari goat kids was higher in both group 1 and group 3 feeding system than group 2. The mean body weight gain of group 1 animals was significantly (P<0.01) higher, followed by group 3 and group 2. The final body measurements of barbari goat kids managed under different feeding systems was higher in group 1 and group 3. The average feed intake and left over feed were signifcantly higher (P<0.01) in improved feeders than conventional feeders while feed spoilage was signifcantly higher (P<0.01) in conventional feeder than improved feeders. The average feeding time was significantly (P<0.05) higher in group 3 as compared to group 2 and group 1. Significant differences (P<0.05) in ruminating time was observed for different groups of animals with group 1 having more rumination time. The results showed significanlty (P<0.01) higher butting, pushing and significantly (P<0.05) higher displacing frequency in goats kept in group 2 than in group 3. The feeding time was significanlty (P<0.01) higher in group 3 after feeding and the lying time was significantly (P<0.01) lower in group 3 (improved feeders) after feeding. The displacing behavior was significanlty (P<0.01) higher in group 2 than in group 3 after feeding. The results revealed that the growth performance of barbari goat kids kept in stalls could be improved by modifiying the feeder design to meet the behavioral needs of the animal and the feed consumption was higher in kids fed in improved feeders due to minimum feed wastage, allowing each animal more time to eat.