• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.1054-1058
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• 2000

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of draught stress on certain haemograms and ovarian activity and the influence of dietary supplementation on the negative effects of draught in cows. Blood parameters and ovarian activity were assessed in supplemented non-working (SNW), supplemented working (SW) and non-supplemented non-working (NSNW) cows. Body weights and body condition scores were recorded fortnightly. Blood samples were collected through jugular venipuncture in December, February and April to determine the contents of haematocrit, erythrocyte, haemoglobin and white blood cells. Ovarian palpations were carried out in October, January and April. The SW cows maintained body weights (p>0.05) during the monitoring period whereas both SNW and NSNW cows gained (p<0.05) body weights. Body condition scores were similar between SW and NSNW cows. Cows in the NSNW group had lower (p<0.05) haematocrit concentrations in April than both supplemented groups. In December, erythrocyte concentrations were similar (p>0.05) among all treatment groups. Haemoglobin concentrations were higher (p<0.05) in SW and SNW cows in February and April than in December. The SW cows had higher leucocyte contents (p<0.05) in February than the other groups of cows. All treatment groups showed similar (p>0.05) ovarian activity in January. However, the NSNW group showed a lower proportion (p<0.05) of cows that exhibited normal ovarian activity in April. The results suggest that dietary supplementation of cows increases haematocrit and haemoglobin contents. In addition, supplementary feeding during the period of draught power provision maintains ovarian activity in cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.1003-1009
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• 2000

Four young swamp buffalo cows of similar age ranging in body weight (W) between 280 to 380 kg and trained for doing physical exercise were used in two consecutive experiments, each using a latin square design, to determine energy expenditure for draught. The experiments consisted of field trials using 4 levels of work load, i.e. no work as control and loads amounting 450 to 500 Newton (N) continuous traction for respectively 1, 2 and 3 h daily for 14 consecutive days for experiment 1, and no work, traction loads equaling 5, 10 and 15% of W for 3 h daily for 14 days for experiment 2. Heart rate during rest and exercise was monitored using PE-3000 HR monitor. Cows were fed only king grass (Penisetum purpuroides) ad libitum and were subjected to balance trials. Body composition was estimated in vivo by the body density method and daily energy expenditure (EE) was calculated from ME minus RE. RE was calculated from the changes in body-protein and -fat measured before and immediately after the 14 d experimental period assuming an energy equivalent of 39.32 MJ/kg fat and 20.07 MJ/kg protein. $E_{exercise}$ ($EE_{work}\;-\;EE_{resting}$), which was the energy spent for doing the traction during 1, 2 and 3 h was 7.13, 15.45 and 19.90 MJ, respectively. $EE_{work}$ for the 1 h treatment group was 39.75 MJ/d equivalent to 1.30 times $EE_{resting}$. The values for the 2 and 3 h treatment groups were 1.75 and 1.86 times resting energy requirement, respectively. Absolute efficiency of work in all exercise trials of experiment 2 was around 27.28%. The increases of daily $E_{exercise}$ values were correlated to elevation of heart rate (HR) according to the equation $E_{exercise}=(0.270HR^{0.363}\;-\;1)$ MJ, while draught force related to heart rate according to the equation DF (N)=6.66 HR - 361.62. Blood glucose and triglyceride levels were gradually elevated with time during the course of exercise. Mean values of blood glucose were 91.7, 115.0 and 116.2 mg/dl for cows after 1, 2 and 3 h pulling loads at 15% W respectively as compared to 88.2 mg/dl prior to work. In the same order and treatment, mean blood triglyceride concentrations were 13.5, 13.3 and 14.8 mg/dl, and 11.5 mg/dl for control. For blood lactate, the values were 1.68, 1.63 and 1.66 mM, and 0.80 mM for control. Glucose was used as the major source of energy during the initial phase of exercise, but for prolonged work, fat will replace carbohydrate as the main substrate. Accumulation of lactate persisted for some time at the end of the exercise trials.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.580-586
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• 2000

Data collected between 1981 and 1991 at the Philippine Carabao Center at Central Luzon State University (PCC-CLSU) were used for the comparison of growth, milk yield and draughtability of Murrah-Philippine crossbred and Philippine native buffaloes. Body weights and body measurements were available at 3-month intervals from birth to 36 months of age for a total of 34 $Murrah{\times}Philippine$ native buffalo F1 crossbreds (CBB; 21 cows, 13 bulls) and 32 Philippine native buffaloes (PNB; 16 cows, 16 bulls). Lactation records were available for 14 CBB and 19 PNB cows. Data for draughtability under wet and dry ploughing conditions were available for 4 CBB and 4 PNB steers. The results indicate that crossbreds grow faster (0-9 months of age: cows $442{\pm}19$ vs. $301{\pm}21g/day$, bulls $305{\pm}23$ vs. $296{\pm}21g/day$; 9-36 months of age: cows $227{\pm}10$ vs. $147{\pm}12g/day$, bulls $282{\pm}13$ vs. $138{\pm}12g/day$), mature earlier and produce more milk (1st lactation: $1139{\pm}153$ vs. $450{\pm}112kg$; 2nd lactation: $1115{\pm}132$ vs. $488{\pm}136kg$) than native buffaloes, but have a poorer draughtability (wet ploughing; force as % of body weight $8.8{\pm}0.2$ vs. $12.2{\pm}0.6$; dry ploughing: cut depth $10.98{\pm}0.25$ vs. $11.92{\pm}0.13cm$, velocity $0.50{\pm}0.03$ vs. $0.60{\pm}0.02m/sec$, force as % of body weight $9.0{\pm}0.6$ vs. $11.3{\pm}0.7$). The correlation coefficients between body weight and body measurements at birth and at 3-month intervals indicate that heart girth has a relatively high correlation with body weight, especially in crossbreds. It is concluded that in Philippine smallholder farming systems in which meat and milk production are secondary to draught power, the native buffalo is preferable from the point of view of input needed to maintain the number of animals kept for a required draught force.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.605-612
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• 2000

Four young swamp buffalo cows of similar age ranging in weight between 280 to 380 kg and trained to do physical work were used in a study to determine energy and protein requirements for draught using a $4{\times}4$ Latin square designed experiment. The experiment consisted of field trials employing 4 levels of work load, e.g. no work as control, and loads amounting 450 to 500 Newton (N) pulled continuously for 1, 2 and 3 h daily for 14 consecutive days. Cows were fed king grass (Penisetum purpuroides) ad libitum and were subjected to materials balance trials. Body composition was estimated in vivo by the body density method and daily energy expenditure (EE) was calculated from ME minus retained energy (RE). The results show that EE while not working ($EE_{resting}$) was $0.42kgW^{0.75}MJ/d$ and maintenance ME ($ME_m$) was $0.37kgW^{0.75}MJ/d$. ME requirement increased to 1.65 times maintenance for the work of 3 hours. The energy expended for doing exercise ($E_{exercise}$) was 9.56, 20.0 and 25.86 MJ/cow for treatments 1, 2 and 3 II, respectively. Fat retention was absent in all groups of working cows, but protein retention was only negative for cows undertaking 3 h work. The relationship between $E_{exercise}$ (MJ), work load (F, kN), work duration (t, h) and body mass (W, kg) was found to be: $E_{exercise}=(0.003F^{1.43}t^{0.93})/W^{0.09}MJ$. The maintenance requirement for digestible protein was $2.51kgW^{0.75}g/d$, whereas digestible protein for growth ($DP_{growth}$) and for work ($DP_{work}$) followed the equations: $DP_{growth}=[(258+1.25W^{0.75}){\Delta}Wkg/d]g$ and $DP_{work}=[12.59e^{0.95t}]g$, respectively The coefficients a, b and c for the calculation of $E_{exercise}$ components according to the Lawrence equation were found to be 2.56 J/kgW.m, 5.2 J/kg load carried.m and 0.29, respectively, thus efficiencies to convert ME into work were 0, 16.09, 27.3 and 32.44% for control, 1, 2 and 3 h/d work, respectively. ME and DP requirements for a 250 to 400 kg working buffalo cow allowing to growth up to 0.5 kg/d are presented.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.621-628
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• 1997

This study aimed to quantify the impact of crossbreeding at farm level, in mixed farm systems in Gujarat. Households with crossbred cattle did not differ from households without crossbreds in terms of farm resources, crop gross margins and off-farm income. The use of crossbred animals did increase livestock gross margins by 64% and household income by 22%. The three agro-ecological zones included in this study differed considerably according to farm system and household income. However, in all three zones, households with crossbreds had higher livestock gross margins than households without crossbreds. There was no real difference in work load and labour division between households with and without crossbreds. There was also no difference in the use of bullocks for draught purposes between the two types of households. In particular buffaloes are being replaced by crossbred cattle. There was a large variation in farm income, largely because of land area. The milk offake per average cow and the number of buffaloes also related positively to farm income in both types of households. Crossbreeding has proved technically and financially viable in different Gujarat mixed farming systems. It can be concluded that crossbreeding is an important development option for landless farmers.