Assessment of compensatory growth in sirohi kids under stall-feeding system

Abstract

Twenty-four Sirohi kids (4 months-old) were randomly distributed into three groups of 8 each and fed ad libitum up to 12 months of age (Gr I), 20% and 40% of feed restriction at 5th and 6th months (Gr II) of age, respectively and 20, 40 and 60% of feed restriction (Gr III) for each of 20 days during 5th and 6th months of age followed by re-alimentation up to 12 months of age. At end of realimentation, four kids from each group were slaughtered and evaluated for carcass traits. Total DMI during entire feed restriction period in Gr I, II and III were 30.29, 19.48 and 17.07 kg, respectively. The feed restriction at 10 days intervals revealed that body weight of kids were 13.59±0.74, 12.10±0.74 and 11.67±0.74 kg in Gr I, II and III, respectively and statistically did not differ up to 40 th day of feed restriction. The growth traits of kids did not differ significantly (P>0.05) in different groups. The body weights of Gr I, Gr II and Gr III kids at 180th of re-alimentation were 26.14±0.93, 25.92±0.93 and 24.06±0.93 kg, respectively. The carcass traits of feed restricted and ad libitum fed Sirohi kids revealed non-significant difference in dressing yield and carcass weights. The feed cost per kg gain was lowest (Rs. 123.18) in Gr II kids followed by Gr III (Rs. 134.60) and Gr I (Rs. 137.13) kids. Therefore, stall-fed Sirohi kids can be maintained at 40% lower feed than ad libitum for 60 days and increase the profit from kid rearing.