Effect Of Restricted Suckling Research Articles

Effect of Restricted Suckling on Growth Performance and Behaviour of Crossbred Piglets

Present study was planned to acclimatize the pre-weaned piglet for stress tolerance through restricted suckling with or without mother’s visibility for improved piglet and through stress tolerance. For this, 244 piglets from 36 pregnant crossbred sows (Landrace × Desi), with 18 sows each, during summer season having 147 piglets and during winter season having 97 piglets were used. Eighteen sows along with their piglets were randomly distributed in 3 treatment groups viz. T0 (No restriction), T1 (restricted suckling with mother’s visibility) and T2 (restricted suckling without mother’s visibility) for the above said study for 3 months. A total of 15 minutes time was allotted for suckling of piglets in T1 and T2 group. Different records pertaining to body weight, feed intake, behaviour and growth parameter of piglets were recorded up to 3 months of age. At the end of the study period, body weight of piglets showed non-significant difference between the treatment groups. Grower feed intake during post-weaning (after 42 days) period showed significant difference (P less than 0.01) during winter season with highest value observed in T2 group. In rest of the period, non-significant difference was observed for all the treatment groups both during summer and winter season. Higher values for suckling behaviour was recorded for T1 and T2 groups than T0. From the present study, restricted suckling without mother’s visibility may be recommended at farm level for quick adaptation of piglets after weaning.

Efeito da frequência de amamentação sobre a taxa de ovulação após tratamento com desmame temporário + GnRH, sobre a incidência de luteólise prematura no primeiro ciclo estral pós-parto e sobre o desempenho da progênie de vacas Nelore

Avaliou-se o efeito da restrição na frequência de amamentação sobre o diâmetro folicular no dia 0 (DFOL), sobre a taxa de ovulação (TO), e sobre a incidência de luteólise prematura no primeiro ciclo estral pós-parto (ILP) de vacas Nelore multíparas, em anestro, submetidas à amamentação ad libitum (controle; n= 115) ou amamentação uma vez ao dia (restrito; n= 109), entre os dias -14 e 9 do experimento, e estudou-se o efeito desses tratamentos sobre o peso à desmama da progênie dessas vacas. Induziu-se ovulação com remoção de bezerros entre os dias -2 e 0 e aplicação de 100μg de GnRH no dia 0. Somente animais que ovularam foram mantidos no experimento (n= 125). A ocorrência de luteólise prematura foi avaliada por meio da dosagem da concentração sérica de progesterona nos dias 5 e 9. A TO não foi influenciada pelos tratamentos (55,8%; P>0,1), e as vacas do tratamento restrito apresentaram maior DFOL (10,90±0,26 vs. 10,18±0,21mm; P<0,05) e menor ILP (21,4% vs. 43,5%; P<0,05). Os bezerros do tratamento controle foram mais pesados (162,32±2,08 vs. 155,91±4,12kg; P<0,05). Conclui-se que a restrição na frequência de amamentação em vacas Nelore reduz a ILP, porém com possível efeito negativo no desenvolvimento dos bezerros.

Effect of Restricted Suckling on Body Weight, Body Condition Score and Onset of Postpartum Ovarian Activity in F1 Cows under Tropical Conditions

Effect of Restricted Suckling on Body Weight, Body Condition Score and Onset of Postpartum Ovarian Activity in F1 Cows under Tropical Conditions

Effect of restricted suckling on milk yield, composition and flow, udder health, and postpartum anoestrus in grazing Holstein cows

The effect of restricted suckling on milk yield and composition, udder health, and postpartum anoestrus in dairy cows in pasture-based systems, was studied in 32 Holstein multiparous cows and their calves. At calving, each cow–calf pair was randomly assigned to one of two treatments: restricted suckling (RS) of the cows by her own or another calf, twice daily for 30 min or artificial rearing (AR) of the calves with milk obtained from the bulk tank, offered twice a day in buckets. Treatments were applied until week 8 after calving. The diet of the cows consisted of direct grazing in improved pastures, corn silage and a commercial concentrate which was offered at milking. Milk production and composition, udder health, body condition score of the cows, body weight and milk intake of the calves were measured weekly, and the first postpartum ovulation was determined three times a week by ovarian ultrasonography. Cows with RS management had a lower machine-milked milk yield (17.9 vs. 24.8 kg/d), a lower fat percentage (3.21 vs. 4.11%) and 4% fat-corrected milk yield (16.2 vs. 25.7 kg/d), and also a lower average milk flow (1.35 vs. 1.76 kg/min) than cows in the AR treatment. There was no effect of treatment on milk protein percentage or udder health as measured by milk electrical conductivity. The interval from calving to first postpartum ovulation was shorter in the AR cows than in the RS cows (18.5 vs. 21.8 days). The RS calves consumed more milk (7.2 vs. 5.4 kg/d), gained more body weight (0.813 vs. 0.656 kg/d), and had a higher body weight at weaning (84.3 vs. 73.3 kg) than AR calves. Restricted suckling of grazing dairy cows had a negative effect on machine-milked milk yield, fat percentage and 4% fat-corrected milk yield, but had no effect on udder health or on improved weight gain and body weight at weaning of the calves.

Effect of suckling management on productive performance, carcass traits and meat quality of Comisana lambs

The effect of restricted suckling on productive performance, carcass traits, meat quality and skeletal development of growing lambs was studied. Twenty-one naturally suckled male Comisana lambs were divided into three equal weight groups differing in suckling management systems: (1) only maternal milk (C); (2) only maternal milk until 15th day of age, and then, till slaughter, maternal milk, concentrate and Lucerne hay ad libitum (T1); (3) only maternal milk until 15th day of age, and then from 16th to 30th days of age, maternal milk, concentrate and Lucerne hay ad libitum, and, from 31st day of age till slaughter, only concentrate and Lucerne hay ad libitum (T2). The total mean milk yield was 22.7 and 41.6 kg per ewe for T1 and T2, respectively. Restricted suckling did not significantly affect slaughter weight, hot and cold carcass weights, carcass shrink losses, pH, colour and area of Longissimus muscle, pelvic limb, or bone characteristics. Suckling management system significantly affected ADG, milk intake, dressing percentage, and percentages of intestine, stomach, offal, kidney fat, shoulder, lean and fat, and there were differences in total collagen, and hydroxylysylpyridinoline crosslink concentrations. In addition, different IMC maturity among the muscles was apparent.

Effect of suckling management on productive performance and carcass traits of Comisana lambs

The effect of restricted suckling on productive performance and carcass traits of growing lambs was determined. Twenty-one naturally sucked male Comisana lambs were divided into three equal weight groups with differing suckling management systems: 1) only maternal milk (C); 2) only maternal milk until 15 d of age and, from 16 d of age to slaughter, maternal milk, concentrate and hay ad libitum (T1); 3) only maternal milk until 15 d of age and, from 16 d to 30 d of age, maternal milk, concentrate and hay ad libitum, and, from 31 d of age to slaughter, only concentrate and hay ad libitum (T2). Average daily weight gain (ADG) and milk and feed intake were calculated. Ewe milk was collected from each group. At slaughter (63 d) live weight and carcass measurements were recorded. The overall mean of total milk collected was 22.7 and 41.6 kg ewe-1 for T1 and T2, respectively. Suckling management system significantly affected ADG, milk intake, dressing percentage, and percentages of intestines, stomachs, offals, and kidney fat. Suckling management appears to be an important factor affecting lamb growth and carcass quality.

Weaning strategies to improve the performance of sows and their progeny under smallholder farming conditions

The effect of restricted suckling and split weaning on the reproductive performance of dams and subsequent performance of their litters was studied in an experiment involving 48 Landrace x Large White sows of second and third parity. The sows and their litters were allocated to four treatments as follows: separation to allow either one or two 30 minute periods of suckling per day, reduction of litter size by weaning all piglets attaining 6 kg body weight and a control in which suckling was not restricted. Treatments commenced when piglets attained four weeks of age and were weaned at eight weeks of age. Restricted suckling resulted in an increased creep feed intake by the piglets. Piglets that were suckled once a day consumed 8.76 kg creep feed during the experimental period compared to 8.49, 8.35 and 8.21 kg for split weaning, twice a day suckling and the control, respectively. All intakes were significantly different. No differences were observed between treatments in total weight gain over the four week period. Sows in the control treatment had an average wean to oestrus interval (WOI) of 17 days. Restricting piglets to suckling once or twice a day, or split weaning had a positive effect of significantly reducing the WOI compared to the control. A number of sows exhibited oestrus during lactation, with the sows in the twice a day suckling treatment having a larger percentage than those in the other treatments. Restricting suckling and split weaning have an advantage of improving the reproductive performance of the sows without compromising piglet survival or growth. We recommend restricting piglet suckling to twice a day, and weaning of all piglets attaining six kg live weight.

Effects of Restricted Suckling on Forage Intake of Range Calves

Twenty two-year-old primiparous Angus X Hereford cows and their heifer calves were used to study effects of milk consumption on calf performance, suckling behavior, and forage intake. Ten cow-calf pairs were allotted to each of 2 treatments on blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis [H.B.K.] Lag.) rangeland. Calves from 5 cows were prevented from suckling the rear udder quarters for 4 weeks to reduce milk intake by 32% when calves averaged 71 +/- 4 days of age. The other 5 calves were allowed to suckle normally. Four 12-day sampling periods were conducted from June through September. Calves from the control treatment weighed more (P 0.10) suckle longer or more frequently than control calves during any sampling period. Forage organic matter intake was not (P > 0.10) different between cows or calves from either group at any date. Milk production was not different (P > 0.10) between groups 1 month after restriction periods were terminated. Calves on 4 week milk restriction did not increase forage organic matter intake and had decreased weaning weights compared to control animals.

The effect of restricted suckling and non-suckling systems on dairy cow and calf behaviour

Artificial rearing necessitates stressful cow-calf separation (Lefcourt and Elsasser, 1995; Hopster et al, 1995) and precipitates cross-suckling (Lidfors, 1993). Thus, suckling systems may improve the welfare of cows and calves, by alleviating 'stressful' cows-calf separation and satiating suckling motivation. The aim of this experiment was to compare behaviour in cows and calves in restricted suckling and non-suckling systems.Thirty six multiparous dairy cows and calves were divided at 4 days postpartum into three groups. The treatment groups were; non-suckled (NS) cows with calves artificially reared (AR), cows suckled by their own calf (RSM) and cows suckled by a foster calf (RSF). Suckling took place for 15 minutes following mechanical milking only.

The effect of restricted suckling and non-suckling systems on dairy cow and calf behaviour

Artificial rearing necessitates stressful cow-calf separation (Lefcourt and Elsasser, 1995; Hopster et al, 1995) and precipitates cross-suckling (Lidfors, 1993). Thus, suckling systems may improve the welfare of cows and calves, by alleviating 'stressful' cows-calf separation and satiating suckling motivation. The aim of this experiment was to compare behaviour in cows and calves in restricted suckling and non-suckling systems.Thirty six multiparous dairy cows and calves were divided at 4 days postpartum into three groups. The treatment groups were; non-suckled (NS) cows with calves artificially reared (AR), cows suckled by their own calf (RSM) and cows suckled by a foster calf (RSF). Suckling took place for 15 minutes following mechanical milking only.

Effect of restricted suckling once daily in Bos taunts x Bos indicus dairy cattle on milk production and reproduction

Restricted suckling is one of the most common forms of livestock production in developing countries. It combines partial milk extraction and suckling, in a multi-commodity (milk and calf) production system.The objective of this experiment was to determine the possibility of the use of once daily suckling to increase total milk production without reducing reproductive performance or the ‘ quantity’ of milk extracted at milking in crossbred cattle.A total of 36 cows, locally known as ‘Lucerna’, were placed into two treatments. 18 cows were non-suckled and 18 cows were restricted suckled once daily for 15 minutes following milking (p.m.). All experimental cows had completed two or more lactations and at 3 days post partum were simultaneously allocated to the treatments according to: parity; condition score; previous lactation yield and calving interval. The cows remained in the experiment for 100 days.

Effect of restricted suckling once daily in Bos taunts x Bos indicus dairy cattle on milk production and reproduction

Restricted suckling is one of the most common forms of livestock production in developing countries. It combines partial milk extraction and suckling, in a multi-commodity (milk and calf) production system.The objective of this experiment was to determine the possibility of the use of once daily suckling to increase total milk production without reducing reproductive performance or the ‘ quantity’ of milk extracted at milking in crossbred cattle.A total of 36 cows, locally known as ‘Lucerna’, were placed into two treatments. 18 cows were non-suckled and 18 cows were restricted suckled once daily for 15 minutes following milking (p.m.). All experimental cows had completed two or more lactations and at 3 days post partum were simultaneously allocated to the treatments according to: parity; condition score; previous lactation yield and calving interval. The cows remained in the experiment for 100 days.

Effect of restricted suckling on pregnancy rates and calf performance in Brahman cows

Seventy-six Brahman cows and first-calf heifers were assigned to one of two groups: 1) normal suckling (34 cows) or 2) twice-daily suckling (45 minutes of suckling each time; 42 cows). Twice-daily suckling was carried out from 30 days postcalving until weaning (seven months). All animals were maintained under artificial insemination for a four-month breeding period. Mean pregnancy rate was 63.06 ± 0.06% and was influenced by suckling group (P<0.01) and number of parturitions (P<0.05). The pregnancy rates were 33% higher in twice-daily suckled cows. Forty-four percent of the first calf heifers in the twice-daily suckling group became pregnant compared to 9% in the normal suckling group (P<0.01). Twice-daily suckling improved pregnancy rate without depressing preweaning calf performance.