Abstract

The experiment was conducted with an intent to know the effect of different farming systems on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility coefficients, reproductive traits, disease incidence, heat stress indices, and cost economics of Nellore sheep. The study includes two parallel trials to prevent the influence of age on heat stress indices (panting score and erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF)). One hundred and twenty lambs (60 ram-lambs and 60 ewe-lambs) were allotted in a randomized block design under extensive, semi-intensive, and intensive systems for trial I, whereas trial II include eighteen rams assigned to the three respective farming systems in a completely randomised design. Both, season (summer) and grazing practice increased the panting score and EOF. The heat stress indices were positively correlated (P<0.01) with dry-bulb temperature and temperature-humidity index (THI) and inversely correlated (P<0.01) to relative humidity. Allotting the sheep to intensive system increased (P<0.001) weight gain and average daily gain with higher effect in males compared to females. The parameters of asymptotic weight (A), integration constant (B), and maturation rate were higher for intensive males. The male Nellore lambs had higher asymptotic weight and lower maturity rate than females, irrespective of the rearing system. Intensive sheep revealed a higher dry matter intake, digestibility coefficients, feed conversion ratio. The instantaneous bite mass (IBM) was higher for Commelina benghalensis, while instantaneous bite frequency (IBF), instantaneous intake rate (IIR) were higher for Cyanodon dactylon and amaranthus viridis, respectively. The proportion of intakes were highest for Stylo hemata followed by Cynodon dactylon and Tridax procumbens species. No differences were observed for the weight at puberty, oestrus cycle length, oestrus duration, conception percent, gestation period, and lambing percent in three rearing systems; however, the age at puberty was lower (P<0.001) and the birth weight was higher (P<0.001) for sheep reared under intensive farming system. Highest disease incidence was observed in rainy and winter seasons, particularly in sheep reared under extensive system. The capital expenditure was same for the three rearing systems, while the recurring expenditure was higher for Intensive farming system. The gross income and net income were higher for intensive system on account of higher weight gains. However, the higher returns per rupee of expenditure project the extensive farming as an ideal rearing system for small farmers and entrepreneurs with a low initial capital.

Highlights

  • Most of the developing countries of the world are found in the tropics, which are currently experiencing a rapid hike in human population, dramatic urbanization, monetarization of economics, and income change

  • The box and whisker plot for panting scores showed that the median values of panting scores were higher (P

  • The seasonal effect was noticed with higher (P

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Summary

Introduction

Most of the developing countries of the world are found in the tropics, which are currently experiencing a rapid hike in human population, dramatic urbanization, monetarization of economics, and income change. Sheep with multi-facet utility (for meat, wool, skin, manure and to some extent milk) plays a vital role in the Indian agrarian economy They are better adapted to arid and semi-arid tropics with marginal and sub-marginal lands. Few farmers rear the sheep even on grain, cultivated fodder, and crop residue In developing countries such as India, the farming system could be categorized as intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive systems. In extensive and semi-intensive farming system, the sheep flocks are let loose for a grazing period of 4–8 hours This practice helps in increasing the fertility of land via the return of dung and urine, control of waste herbage growth, reduced fertilizer usage, easier crop management, increased crop yields, and greater economic returns. No welldefined pasturelands are available for sheep, and they mainly depend on wastelands, which are otherwise not suitable for crop production

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