Influence of housing systems on growth performance of Baladi male calves raised under Fayoum governorate conditions

Abstract EN

This work was carried out to investigate the influence of housing systems on growth and fattening performance of Baladi male cow calves.

Forty eight of entire male calves at 12 months of age and averaging 205.5 ± 7.4 kg in body weight were allotted to four comparable systems.

In the 1st and 2nd systems animals were kept in tie-stalls in pens with wooden or concrete roofs (TSWR and TSCR), in the 3rd and 4th systems animals were kept in free-stalls in pens with wooden or concrete roofs (FSWR and FSCR).

The trial was conducted in three successive periods of 4 months each forming 12 months total duration..

Animals were fed the same ration at the tested periods..

Animals were weighed and blood samples were obtained per each animal before feeding in the morning at 15 day intervals.

Data on carcass traits were obtained and a simple economic evaluation was performed.

Results revealed that.

1- Housing systems affected (P?0.05) animal respiration rate and daily water intake with no effect on rectal temperature.

The free-stall animals showed the lowest respiration rate and daily water intake (for wooden or concrete roofs) than tie-stall animals.

As the age advanced , water intake increased significantly with no effect on rectal temperature or respiration rate.

2- Haematological traits Red Blood Cells(RBC),:White Blood Cells,(WBC): triiodothyronine (T3), total lipids, total cholesterol, total albumin and glucose were affected significantly except that of hemoglobin (Hb), total protein and globulin.

Such traits were in favour of free-stall calves especially those reared under wooden roofs.

Only T3, total lipids and total cholesterol showed significant increase as animals aged up to 16-20 months.

3- Animal growth rate was mainly affected by the type of the roof.

However, feed conversion was affected by type of stalling and type of roof.

Animal growth was in favor of wooden roof yards.

Feed conversion was in favour of either TSWR or FSCR.

The absolute growth increased significantly up to 16-20 months of calf age then tended to be nearly similar.

Feed conversion was significantly decreased in the third period only.

4- Carcass traits were in favour of calves reared under wooden roofs whether calves were under tie or free stalls.

5- The economic efficiency was better with all housing systems except that of TSCR.

However, the TSWR was the best.

In conclusion, it seems that tie-stall calves under wooden roofs tended to show better performance than other systems in general.