Comparative growth performance of Kajli lambs suckling their dams or offered buffalo-milk, cow-milk or milk replacer during pre-weaning period

Transcription

1 CSIRO PUBLISHING Animal Production Science, 214, 54, Comparative growth performance of Kajli lambs suckling their dams or offered buffalo-milk, cow-milk or milk replacer during pre-weaning period Musharraf Ahmad Anjum A, Shaukat Ali Bhatti A,D, Muhammad Sarwar A, Ghulam Muhammad B and Muhammad Jamil Basra C A Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. B Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. C Livestock Experiment Station Khushab, Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Government of Punjab, Pakistan. D Corresponding author. sabhatti6@gmail.com Abstract. Kajli, is one of the most beautiful sheep breeds of Pakistan. Because of their beauty, Kajli lambs are sold at a higher price than those of other breeds with similar weight. With the increasing trend in commercial livestock farming, young Kajli lambs are purchased from the open market and reared up to Eid-ul-Adha (The Muslim Sacrificial Day). Information on feeding cost and growth performance on artificial rearing is important for the breed lovers and for a commercial enterprise. The present study aimed at generating basic information on feeding cost and growth performance of Kajli lambs offered milk replacer, cow-milk, and buffalo-milk, in comparison with those suckling directly from their dams. Fifty-six healthy Kajli lambs both male and female (with equal sex ratio) born at the Livestock Experimental Station, Khushab, Punjab, Pakistan during spring 213 remained with their mothers for 1 week and were then divided into four groups of 14 animals each. Lambs in Group I were allowed to suckle their dams ad libitum, twice daily until 8 weeks and then once daily from 9 to 12 weeks. Lambs were weighed before and after suckling to calculate milk consumption. Lambs in the other three treatments were offered buffalo-milk, cow-milk or milk replacer at the rate of 1% of bodyweight until the 8th week and then gradually reduced to zero by the end of the 12th week. All lambs were offered starter ration from the 5th week of age in individual pens. The data on milk and starter intake, weekly bodyweight and blood glucose were analysed through MIXED procedures of SAS using repeated-measures analysis, and average daily gain (ADG), total weight gain, weaning weight and feeding cost were analysed using a completely randomised design. Least square means of ADG (g/day) and total weight gain (kg) were similar (P >.5) in direct suckling lambs and lambs offered buffalo-milk (175 and 151, and 14.5 and 12.5, respectively), and were higher (P <.5) than those offered cow-milk (118 and 1.4) or milk replacer (94 and 7.7). Feeding cost (per kg of liveweight) was highest (PKR 535) in lambs fed milk replacer and was lower (P >.5) in the other three groups. The cost of rearing lambs on buffalo-milk tended to be lower (PKR 375) than those offered cow-milk. In the absence of ewe s milk, rearing Kajli lambs on buffalo-milk during the pre-weaning period therefore seems to be a better alternative. Additional keywords: feeding cost, lamb growth. Received 9 March 214, accepted 13 June 214, published online 24 July 214 Introduction Kajli, because of its beauty, is one of the most preferred sheep breeds for sacrificial purposes in Pakistan. Black circles around the eyes, long pendulous ears and a Roman nose are its predominant breed characteristics. The average liveweight (LW) of a Kajli male is 55 kg but this could be higher if animals are fed according to their nutrient requirements. The Kajli sheep breed is mainly found in the northern districts of Punjab. Because of their beauty, Kajli lambs are sold at a higher price than lambs of other breeds having the same LW. Kajli lamb markets are organised before Eid-ul-Adha and animals are sold to the highest Journal compilation CSIRO 214 bidders. With the increasing trend in commercial livestock farming, young Kajli lambs are purchased from the open market and reared up to Eid-ul-Adha. Rearing lambs from birth to weaning is difficult and costly: the high demand and lower supply, provides an impetus for lovers of Kajli lambs to purchase them soon after birth and rear them up to Eid-ul-Adha. The young lambs of Kajli sheep are raised on either cow-milk (COW), buffalo-milk (BUFF) or on milk replacers (MR). Increasing demand for Kajli lambs has stimulated the producer s interest in intensive production systems. Farmers may have tacit knowledge about the cost-benefit ratio and

2 Performance of Kajli lambs on ewe, buffalo or cow s milk Animal Production Science 153 have calculated their returns from this venture, but there is no documentation on the rearing cost of these lambs from birth to the slaughter age. Information on rearing cost, disease occurrence, and survivability is thus important for Kajli lamb lovers and their commercial enterprises. Naturally reared lambs grow faster and result in high carcass yields compared with artificially reared lambs (Oztabak and Ozpinar 26). However, satisfactory growth in lambs can be achieved by rearing them artificially with high quality MR under good management conditions (Ocak and Cankaya 213). The present study was to generate basic information on milk consumption, feeding cost and growth performance of Kajli lambs offered MR, COW, and BUFF in comparison with those suckling directly from their dams during the weaning period. Materials and methods Animal grouping Single-born Kajli lambs (n = 56; in equal sex ratio) at the Livestock Experiment Station, Khushab (32.2 N, 72.2 E) during the lambing season of spring (15 February 15 March) 213 were separated from their dams after 1 week of their birth. The lambs were then divided into four groups: lambs in Group I (SUCK) suckled their dams twice daily for 2 min in the morning and evening until the 9th week and then once daily up to the end of the 12th week. Lambs were weighed before and after suckling to calculate the quantity of milk consumed. Lambs in the other three groups were given a measured quantity of either BUFF, COW or MR at the rate of 1% of bodyweight (BW) until the 9th week, which was gradually reduced to zero by the end of the 12th week. Lambs were offered milk or MR individually through nipple feeders twice daily with half given in the morning and half in the evening. Feeding The quantity of milk or MR was based initially on their birth weights and then on weekly BW measured before morning feeding. Fresh milk was collected from cross-bred cows (Friesian Local non-descript) and buffaloes and warmed to a temperature of 39 C before feeding. Milk replacer (Telilac Plus, LNB, LBN International Feed BV, Nistelrode, The Netherlands; 24.5% protein and 21% fat on a dry matter basis) was reconstituted at the time of feeding by mixing 1 kg of dry milk in 6 L of water making it 7 L with a final protein, fat and metabolisable energy (ME) of 3.5% and 3% and 4.96 Mcal/kg, respectively. The ewe-milk, BUFF and COW contained crude protein (CP) 4.6%, 3.93% and 3.21%; fat 6.6%, 5.9% and 4.1%; and ME 6.3, 6.4 and 5.58 Mcal/kg, respectively. All lambs were offered a starter ration, containing 2.5% CP and 2.88 Mcal of ME/kg, in individual pens from the 5th week of age. The lambs were allowed access to starter ration for 3 min, twice daily in the morning and evening; this practice was used to avoid overeating by lambs as a precautionary measure to prevent enterotoxaemia. The lambs were then allowed to move freely in the shed. Berseem (Egyptian clover) hay was offered ad libitum to all lambs from the 5th week of age. Access to fresh clean water was provided to the lambs in steel tubs (76 61 cm diameter height). Lamb scour score was recorded on a daily basis on a scale of 1 (normal), 2 (soft), 3 (runny) and 4 (watery) as described by Kertz and Chester-Jones (24). The experiment was terminated when lambs reached the age of 12 weeks. Blood glucose analyses Pre- and post-feeding blood glucose was measured on a fortnightly basis. For this purpose, blood samples were taken from the jugular vein before and 45 min after feeding in the morning. Blood glucose was measured immediately using a portable glucometer (Precision Xtra, Abbott Labratories Ltd, Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK) supplied with appropriate test strips for measuring glucose. Milk energy Milk energy was calculated using the formula described by the National Research Council (21). The CP and fat were analysed using the procedures described by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (23) for Kjeldahl nitrogen (AOAC official method 976.6) and fat (AOAC official method 96.39). Lactose was calculated by subtracting CP, fat and ash from 1 on a dry matter basis. Feeding cost Total feeding cost was calculated by pooling expenditures on medication, milk or MR, starter ration and hay consumed. Cost per kg of LW gain was determined by dividing total feed cost by total LW gain. Statistical analyses The recorded data on milk, MR and starter consumption and weekly weight were analysed using repeated-measures analysis with the MIXED procedures of SAS (SAS 211) with an AR (1) covariance structure as described by Littell et al. (1998). The effect of lamb was considered as random. The following statistical model was used for analysis: Y ijk ¼ m þ T i þ W j þ Lamb k þ e ijk ; Where Y ijk is dependent variable; m = overall mean; T i is the fixed effect of treatment, where i = sheep milk, COW, BUFF or MR; W j = is the repeated-measure of week j ; Lamb k = random effect of lamb k ; and e ijk = residual error. Differences in means were tested using Tukey s test and were considered significant when P <.5. For the other descriptive statistics (average growth rate, weaning weight, total weight gain, total intake of milk or MR and starter ration, economics of lamb production), the birthweight was taken as a covariate. The data were analysed using the MIXED procedures of SAS. The statistical model was as follows: Y i ¼ m þ T i þ e i ; where Y i is dependent variable; m = overall mean; T i is the fixed effect of treatment, where i = sheep milk, COW, BUFF or MR; and e i = residual error. Differences in means were tested using Tukey s test and were considered significant when P <.5. Data is reported as least square means because of unequal number of observations in each treatment resulting from lamb mortality.

3 154 Animal Production Science M. A. Anjum et al. Table 1. Least-squares means of intake, growth performance and feeding cost of Kajli lambs suckling their dams or offered buffalo-milk, cow-milk or milk replacer during pre-weaning period SUCK: direct suckling lambs weaned at the 12th week; BUFF: lambs offered buffalo-milk 1% of bodyweight and weaned at the 12th week; COW: lambs offered cow-milk 1% of bodyweight and weaned at the 12th week; MR: lambs offered milk replacer 1% of bodyweight and weaned at the 12th week. Values followed by the same letter in the same row are not significantly difference (at P =.5); ***P <.1 Parameters SUCK BUFF COW MR s.e. Significance Total milk intake (L) 8.4a 72.4bc 72.5b 66c 1.6 *** Total starter intake (kg) 7.1c 6.2d 9.1b 9.9a.2 *** Weight at 12 weeks (kg) 21.2a 19.2a 17.1b 14.4c.49 *** Total weight gain (kg) 14.5a 12.5a 1.4b 7.7c.6 *** Average daily gain (g/day) 175a 151a 118b 94b.49 *** Cost (Rs; PKR = 1 AU$) Milk consumed 4826a 4298b 363c 3253d 92 *** Starter ration 214c 186d 273b 296a 5 *** Hay Medicine 18c 56c 213b 326a 18 *** Total 5348a 4741b 4317c 476c 89 *** Cost/kg 379b 375b 423b 535a 23 *** Milk as % of BW Age (weeks) SUCK COW Results Milk intake Least square mean value of total milk intake during the weaning period was highest (P <.5) in SUCK lambs and lowest in those on MR (Table 1). The SUCK lambs consumed 14.4 kg more milk than those on MR. Total milk intake of BUFF or COW lambs was not significantly (P >.5) different. Milk intake as %BW of SUCK lambs was 18% in the first week, 12% of BW in the 4th week, ~1% of BW in Weeks 5 6, and then reduced to less than 6% of BW after the 8th week. Lambs reared on BUFF, COW or MR consumed milk at 1% of BW up to the 9th week of age, which was gradually reduced to zero by the end of the 12th week (Fig. 1). Total starter intake Total starter intake was highest (P <.5) in MR lambs followed by COW, SUCK and BUFF (Table 1). All were different from each other. The MR lambs consumed 2.8 kg more starter ration than the SUCK lambs. MR BUFF Fig. 1. Milk intake as percentage of bodyweight of Kajli lambs suckling their dams or offered buffalo-milk, cow-milk or milk replacer during the preweaning period. 12 Weaning weights and average daily gain (ADG) The SUCK lambs had the highest (P <.5) and MR lambs the lowest weaning weight at the age of 12 weeks (Table 1). No differences were observed between weaning weights of SUCK or BUFF lambs; however, SUCK lambs tended to be heavier than BUFF lambs. Weaning weights of SUCK lambs were 4 and 7 kg heavier than COW or MR lambs, respectively. ADG was highest (P <.5) in SUCK lambs and lowest in MR lambs. ADG in SUCK or BUFF lambs was not different (P >.5), however, it tended to be higher in the former. The ADG in COW and MR lambs was not different (P >.5), however, COW lambs tended to be higher (Table 1). Blood glucose level In all the treatment groups, differences in post-feeding blood glucose levels were higher than pre-feeding level at the age of 5th week. However, with the advancement in the age of lambs, difference between post- and pre-feeding blood glucose level diminished gradually and the values were similar at the age of the 13th week (Fig. 2). Feeding cost The SUCK lambs had the highest (P <.5) expenditure on liquid feed followed by BUFF, COW and MR (Table 1). Expenditure on starter was highest (P <.5) in MR lambs followed by COW, SUCK and BUFF lambs (Table 1). All treatments were different from one another. Total feeding cost was highest (P <.5) in SUCK lambs followed by BUFF, COW and MR (Table 1). The COW and MR lambs were not different from each other. Cost to produce 1 kg LW gain was the highest (P <.5) in MR lambs. Numerically, COW lambs were next highest followed by SUCK and then BUFF lambs (Table 1). The COW, SUCK and BUFF lambs were not statistically different from each other. Health and survivability of Kajli lambs Average scour score throughout the study period was 1.15, 1.4, 1.14 and 1.22 and the average duration of scouring was 2.14,.77,

4 Performance of Kajli lambs on ewe, buffalo or cow s milk Animal Production Science direct suckler offered buffalo milk offered cow milk 12 offered milk replacer Age (weeks) Fig. 2. Fasting (- - -) and post-feeding ( ) blood glucose (mg/dl) of Kajli lambs suckling their dams or offered buffalo-milk, cow-milk or milk replacer during Weeks 5 13 of age and 3.7 days in SUCK, BUFF, COW and MR calves, respectively, and were not different (P >.5) among different treatments. However, scour days tended to be higher in MR lambs and lower in the BUFF lambs. Mortality figures were not different among treatments; one lamb died in each of the dietary treatments except the SUCK lambs. The total lamb mortality was 5.3% during the 12 weeks of the experiment. Discussion Total milk intake was higher in SUCK lambs than those offered measured quantities of milk or MR. The SUCK lambs consumed more milk because they were allowed ad libitum suckling; their milk intake was up to 18% of BW in the first few weeks. While some error in estimation of milk intake is likely due to the weigh-suckle-weigh method used in the SUCK treatment, it is considered that most of the 18% difference was due to the opportunity for ad libitum intake, rather than error. All the lambs in the other three groups were offered a measured quantity of milk so their intake was 1% of BW up to the 9th week and then was reduced gradually to zero by the end of the 12th week. Total starter ration intake was higher in MR and COW lambs because they started to consume starter earlier than SUCK or BUFF lambs. The low energy content of COW and MR could be a possible reason for the higher starter intakes of MR or COW than SUCK or BUFF as animals endeavoured to fulfil their energy requirements from this starter. Bodyweights, total weight gain and ADG were not different (P >.5) in SUCK and BUFF lambs; however, they were higher than for COW or MR lambs. Oztabak and Ozpinar (26) reported higher ADG and weaning weights in ewe-reared Chios lambs as compared with lambs reared on MR at the age of 3 weeks. Natural suckling Awassi lambs had higher BW than lambs reared on MR at 2 and 4 weeks, but not at the age of 6 weeks (Emsen et al. 24). Rodríguez et al.(28) reported higher ADG for naturally suckling Assaf lambs as compared with artificially reared lambs on ad libitum or restricted commercial reconstituted cow s milk. However, Napolitano et al. (22) reported no difference in daily weight gains of ewe-reared Comisana lambs compared with lambs offered MR ad libitum. Differences in the energy content of milk obtained from ewe, buffalo, cow and MR could be a reason for differences in BW, total weight gain and ADG in the present study. In the present study, post-feeding blood glucose values tended to be higher than pre-feeding values during the first 1 weeks of their age but this difference dissipated by the 13th week. This is an indication of a functional rumen producing volatile fatty acids as a result of rumen fermentation. No difference was observed in the blood glucose profile of lambs in all treatment groups. The glucose values declined with age. Holcombe et al.(1992) reported increased blood glucose in lambs 1 h post-feeding after 7 weeks, and a gradual decline in both pre- and post-feeding values with advancing age. Norouzian and Valizadeh (211) also reported declining blood glucose values with advancing age in Balouchi male lambs, however, Oztabak and Ozpinar (26) observed an increasing trend in blood glucose in Chios lambs from the 1st to 3rd weeks of age. Total feeding cost was higher for SUCK and BUFF lambs because of the higher open market prices of ewe-milk and BUFF. Total feeding cost was lower for COW and MR lambs due to lower prices of COW and MR. However, the cost to produce 1 kg of BW was lowest for SUCK and BUFF lambs. Ocak and Cankaya (213) reported that lambs can be successfully reared on MR at a lower cost than ewe rearing. However, Oztabak and Ozpinar (26) reported a higher cost per kg weight gain in lambs reared on MR due to their poorer growth rates. Higher growth rate and weight gain were the reasons for the lower feeding cost of SUCK and BUFF lambs in the present study. Survivability Total lamb mortality was 5.3% during the experimental period, with no difference among all of the treatment groups. Emsen et al. (24) reported mortality rates of 25% and 15% in ewe-reared

5 156 Animal Production Science M. A. Anjum et al. lambs compared with those reared on MR, respectively. However, Oztabak and Ozpinar (26) reported decreased survivability in artificially reared lambs compared with ewereared lambs. Close observation, emergency treatment, proper veterinary protocol and better husbandry practices were possible reasons for low mortality in the present study. Conclusion In the absence of mother s milk, rearing young lambs on BUFF during the pre-weaning period seems to be a better alternative than the use of COW or MR. Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to the Livestock and Dairy Development, Punjab, Lahore for providing animals, material support and research facilities at the Livestock Experiment Station, Khushab. Thanks to Professor Peter Wynn, Graham Centre Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia for correcting language use in this manuscript. References Association of Official Analytical Chemists (23) Official methods of analysis. 17th edn. (AOAC International: Gaithersburg, MD) Emsen E, Yaprak MO, Bilgin C, Emsen B, Ockerman HW (24) Growth performance of Awassi lambs fed calf milk replacer. Small Ruminant Research 53, doi:1.116/j.smallrumres Holcombe DW, Krysl LJ, Judkins MB, Hallford DM (1992) Growth performance, serum hormones, and metabolite responses before and after weaning in lambs weaned at 42 days of age: effect of preweaning milk and postweaning alfalfa or grass hay diets. Journal of Animal Science 7, Kertz AF, Chester-Jones H (24) Guidelines for measuring and reporting calf and heifer experimental data. Journal of Dairy Science 87, doi:1.3168/jds.s22-32(4) Littell RC, Henry PR, Ammerman CB (1998) Statistical analysis of repeated measures data using SAS procedures. Journal of Animal Science 76, Napolitano F, Cifuni GF, Pacelli C, Riviezzi AM, Girolami A (22) Effect of artificial rearing on lamb welfare and meat quality. Meat Science 6, doi:1.116/s39-174(1)14-1 National Research Council (21) Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle. 7th revised edition. (National Academy of Sciences: Washington, DC) Norouzian MA, Valizadeh R (211) Effect of rearing system on pre-weaning growth, rumen development and its influence on post-weaning performance of lambs. Archiv fur Tierzucht 54, Ocak S, Cankaya S (213) A novel method of analyzing rearing system on lamb growth and farm profitability. African Journal of Agricultural Research 8, doi:1.5897/ajar Oztabak K, Ozpinar A (26) Growth performance and metabolic profile of Chios lambs prevented from colostrum intake and artificially reared on a calf milk replacer. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 3, Rodríguez AB, LandaR, Bodas R, Prieto N, MantecónAR, Giráldez FJ (28) Carcass and meat quality of Assaf milk fed lambs: effect of rearing system and sex. Meat Science 8, doi:1.116/j.meatsci SAS (211) The SAS/STAT user s guide. Version 9.2. (SAS Institute Inc.: Cary, NC)