CC BY
0JWPR
Journal of World's Poultry Research
J. World's Poult. Res. 4(1): 01-04, March 25, 2014
© 2014, Scienceline Publication
Performance of Vanaraja Birds under Different Climatic Parameters
Irfan Akram Baba1*, Yashwant Singh2 and Palanisamy Thirumurugan3
1 Assistant professor Division of LPM SKUAST-Kashmir
2 Animal Scientist KVKBathinda GADVASULudhiana
3 Senior Scientist Division of LPMIVRI Division of Livestock Production and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of and Animal Husbandry R S Pura Jammu Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology Jammu - (J&K)-181102
Corresponding author's email: irfanvet@gmail.com
Received: Aug 30, 2013 Accepted: Dec 25, 2013
ABSTRACT
Present study was conducted to study the effect of some climatic parameters on the performance of Vanaraja birds reared under intensive and backyard systems. Performance of Vanaraja (dual purpose) birds under the environmental conditions such as temperature, relative humidity and Temperature Humidity Index (THI) was studied in summer in Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir. 120 birds were equally distributed and reared for eight weeks in two groups: intensive (inside shed) and semi intensive (outside shed). Each group was having four replicates of 15 birds each. Based upon average daily dry and wet bulb temperatures, THI values for outside and inside the shed were calculated. The overall average temperature, relative humidity, THI, mortalities, water intake, weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio by the birds in intensive (inside shed) and semi intensive (outside shed) systems up to eight weeks of age were; 37.02 and 37.63 oC, 62.18 and 66.61 %, 84.5 and 83.85, 2.4 and 1.7, 1300.3+6.77 and 1055.92± 7.32 ml, 173.27 ± 6.78 and 170.84 ± 5.21 g, 398.02 ± 5.66 and 327.90 ± 7.11 g, 2.24± 0.112.0 and 2 ± 0.12 respectively. THI values for outside and inside the shed suggested that the birds were in stress during the experiment. It was concluded that during the extremes of temperature and relative humidity the performance of the Vanaraja birds was less.
Key words: Vanaraja, Intensive, Performance, Climatic Parameters.
Improvement in poultry performance started from 1950s together with selection of genetically superior birds and improvement in ambient factors such as feeding and housing, which resulted in decrease slaughtering age to 42 days and increase body weight to 2 kg (Havenstien et al., 1994; Leterrier et al., 1998). In poultry production genotype and environment are two main factors that affect output. Loss in output might be due to genotype, ambient factors, management and climate (Cahaner and Leenstra, 1992). High environmental temperatures during summer months significantly reduce feed intake and causes slower growth rates of poultry (Bonnet et al., 1997).
For many years, researchers have been investigating the effect of high environmental temperature on the performance of poultry and have found deleterious effects on productive performance (Mashsly et al., 2004). Heat stress depresses body weight and is generally accompanied by suppression of feed intake leading to decline in production. In addition chronic heat exposure significantly decreased protein
(Lardier et al., 1993) and other feed ingredients (Bonnet et al, 1997) digestibility.
Vanaraja is an example of superior stock (developed by the Project Directorate on Poultry, ICAR, Hyderabad for backyard farming in rural and tribal areas of India) a choice dual purpose coloured bird which have significantly contributed to the overall economy of the rural people in terms of eggs and meat (Bhattacharya et al., 2005).
Studies available with regard to performance of Vanaraja birds under different climatic parameters are less and therefore present study was conducted to see the effects of climatic parameters on Vanaraja birds reared under intensive and backyard systems.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The Vanaraja chicks were procured from Government Poultry Breeding Farm (Jammu) and the experiment was conducted in summer (May) at the poultry farm of LPM Division of Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Science Jammu for a time period of
eight weeks where in the 120 birds were equally distributed in to two groups (four replicates in each group having 15 birds in each replicate). In the intensive group birds were reared on deep litter system within the poultry house and in the second group birds were reared in the backyard (fenced area in front of poultry shed was divided into 4 partitions and in each partition 15 birds were kept with 2 drinkers and one each dry and wet bulb thermometers) outside the poultry house. Standard feeding and drinking space was provided to the birds in two groups. The chicks in the semi intensive system were allowed to scavenge during the day time from 6.00 am to 7.00 p.m. and shelter was provided during night. Temperature Humidity Index (THI) stress indicator values were calculated based on the dry and wet bulb temperatures recorded daily by using the following equation (Mc Dowell, 1972).
THI = 0.72 (Dry bulb temp. 0C + Wet bulb temp. 0C) + 40.6
Chicks were vaccinated against Ranikhet (New Castle) disease (F1 strain at 6 day of age) and Infectious Bursal Disease (B2K strain 15-16 days of age). Commercial standard poultry feed was offered to the birds (pre starter up to 15 days, starter 16-30 days and finisher 31-56 days) was fed to chicks.
Data recorders were settled in to middle of each pen (replicate) both inside and outside shed with at least 1.5 meters height from the floor. Feed consumption, weight gain, mortality, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was weekly calculated.
Table 2. Climatic parameters and performance for intensive system in Vanaraja birds during 42 days
Age (weeks) Temperature (oC) Relative Humidity (%) Temperature Humidity Index Mortality (No) Water Intake (ml) Average Weight Gain (g) Average Feed Consumption (g) Feed Conversion Ratio (%)
2nd 37.89 47.14 81 2 645.97 ± 4.06 106.82 ± 7.11 184.42 ± 4.51 1.72 ± 0.05
3rd 37.00 59.20 83 3 723.77 ± 6.96 134.62 ± 3.99 280.34 ± 7.80 2.08 ± 0.13
4th 38.70 56.85 84 1 1101.07 ± 4.10 160.08 ± 2.69 345.67 ± 9.10 2.16 ± 0.13
5th 37.10 46.71 83 3 1469.54 ± 3.62 183.12 ± 5.77 377.64 ± 8.02 2.06 ± 0.07
6th 39.40 81.57 89 7 1660.15 ± 6.32 181.53 ± 4.03 445.67 ± 5.03 2.45 ± 0.24
th 32.10 67.42 88 1 1680.07 ± 7.77 192.64 ± 6.32 553.27 ± 4.05 2.87 ± 0.10
8th 37.01 76.42 84 0 1821.5 ± 10.01 254.09 ± 7.11 599.10 ± 7.35 2.35 ± 0.01
Overall Average 37.02 62.18 84.5 2.4 1300.3+6.77 173.27 ± 6.78 398.02± 5.66 2.24± 0.11
Table 3. Climatic parameters and performance for semi intensive (backyard) system during 42 days in Vanaraja birds
Age (weeks) Temperature (oC) Relative Humidity (%) Temperature Humidity Index Mortality (No) Water Intake (ml) Average Weight Gain (g) Average Feed Consumption (g) Feed Conversion Ratio (%)
2nd 38.11 59.20 82 3 658.07 ± 6.25 98.44 ± 5.04 186.20 ± 7.11 1.89 ± 0.08
3rd 37.61 56.85 84 1 680.00 ± 7.22 135.93 ± 6.10 294.50 ± 6.98 2.17 ± 0.08
4th 39.00 46.71 84 1 876.21 ± 6.53 117.65 ± 8.22 300.03± 9.01 2.55 ± 0.03
5th 38.35 51.57 82 2 1145.08 ± 4.50 161.65 ± 6.01 330.11± 5.11 2.04 ± 0.01
6th 40.14 87.42 86 4 902.10 ± 9.21 166.85 ± 7.68 367.97 ± 3.09 2.38 ± 0.02
th 32.64 86.42 85 1 1510.0 ± 8.55 245.43 ± 5.01 404.25± 5.27 1.64 ± 0.04
8th 37.60 78.14 84 0 1620.0± 10.02 269.95 ± 6.45 412.25 ± 9.09 1.52 ± 0.10
Overall average 37.63 66.61 83.85 1.71 1055.92± 7.32 170.84 ± 5.21 327.90± 7.11 2.02± 0.12
Table 1. The proximate analysis of feed (During 42 _days in Vanaraja birds)_
Proximate Pre
Principals Starter Starter
Crude Protein (%) 22.87 21.9 20.88
Metabolizable Energy 27950 2900 2998
(Kcal/Kg feed)
Ether Extract (%) 4 4 4
Calcium (%) 1.0 1.0 1.0
Phosphorus (%) 0.5 0.5 0.5
Total ash (%) 6.7 8.76 9.1
Statistical analysis
The overall means of different parameters were compared using conventional statistical procedure. The data was analyzed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the level of significance was set at P<0.05. All the statistical procedures were performed based up on Snedecor and Cochran (1994).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of different climatic parameters like temperature, relative humidity and THI and performance parameters like weight gain, feed consumption, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and mortalities are presented in Table 2 and Table 3 respectively for inside and outside poultry shed. As the THI values were higher than 80 during the trail indicated that the birds were in stress. The highest THI values were recorded for the 6th week (89 within shed and 86 outside shed).
So the performance of birds for the 6th week within in the shed in terms of weight gain (181.53 g), feed consumption (445.67 g) and FCR (2.45) was comparatively less when compared to other weeks when the THI values were less. Similarly the performance of birds in terms of weight gain (166.85) and feed consumption (367.97) was less. It was suggested that the birds performed comparatively less during periods when THI values were high during the trail (Kamran, et al., 2008, Sivakumar et al., 2002, Barott, et al., 2006 and Ramirez et al 2005). Scott and Balnave, 1988 observed a less weight gain in birds due to more heat stress.
Highest number of mortalities (7 within shed and 4 outside shed) was recorded during the 6th week due to more heat stress to the birds as THI values were highest. Relationship between the temperature and relative humidity inside and outside poultry house and the number of mortalities was found statistically significant (P<0.05).
It was observed that water consumption and feed intake of birds in the three treatment groups increased linearly with the age of the birds (Savory., 1978 and Brake et al., 1992) but during the extremes of temperatures there was reduction in feed intake. Reduction in feed intake during high temperatures is in order to decrease metabolic heat generation (Abu-Dieyeh, 2006).
There was significantly more water intake by the birds reared in inside the shed as compared to those reared outside. This might be due to the birds in semi intensive system were allowed to scavenge on more succulent feed like foliage, worms, insects etc. and rested under tree shade during hot hours of the day.
The overall performance of the Vanaraja birds was more in outside shed than (semi intensive system) as these birds are more suited for semi intensive system. Better performance of birds in semi intensive system (outside shed) may be attributed to the more suitability of birds to semi intensive system (backyard) in this part of Jammu and Kashmir.
CONCLUSION
Vanaraja birds perform better in semi intensive (backyard system), however in order to improve their performance within the shed (intensive system) particularly in summers there is need to establish appropriate housing management to minimize the direct effect of different climatic factors like temperature, relative humidity and THI on the birds.
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to authorities of Govt. Poultry Farm, Department of Animal Husbandry, Jammu for providing the Vanaraja chicks at proper time.
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