Effect of Sex on the Body Weights of Pure Breed Sahiwal Calf under the High Humid Conditions of Assam

Abstract

Background: Sahiwal is an outstanding milch breed of cattle originated from the Sahiwal area, Montgomery district of Punjab in Pakistan. Performance evaluation of this breed in the high humid condition of north-east India is very much limited. Assam Agricultural University is maintaining a pure herd of Sahiwal cattle in the College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara since August 2017 to conserve, propagate and bring about genetic improvement of this breed.Methods: The study was carried out in Sahiwal cattle farm, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati by utilizing 25 numbers of Sahiwal calves. Least squares analysis of variance technique (1975) was undertaken to analyze the body weights of calves at monthly intervals up to six months of age. Result: Overall mean for body weights of calves were found as 26.96 ± 0.27 kg, 32.03 ± 0.47 kg, 37.03 ± 0.62 kg, 42.91 ± 0.76 kg, 48.45 ± 0.77 kg, 55.22 ± 0.77 kg, and 62.08 ± 0.88 kg at the day of birth, 1st month, 2nd month, 3rd month, 4th month, 5th month and 6th month respectively. Analysis of variance revealed that the bodyweight of male calves was significantly heavier than that of the female calves ( less than 0.05).