Effect of feeding different levels of dietary energy on nutrient utilisation, draught performance and physiological reactions of camels.

摘要

Nine draught camels aged 7 to 10 years old with an average body weight (566.33+or-37.81 kg) were kept on sole roughage diet composed of dry groundnut straw (Arachis hypogaea L.) along with various levels of energy in concentrate mixtures. The camels were randomly divided into three groups of three animals each and allotted three dietary treatments: T₁: 65% TDN in concentrate mixture; T₂: 70% TDN in concentrate mixture and T₃: 75% TDN in concentrate mixture along with dry groundnut straw fed ad libitum as sole roughage. The concentrate mixture was fed as per requirements of draught camels. The camels were subject to payload of 2.8 kg/kg body weight (18%BW) on a two wheeled camel cart. The camels covered 25.5 km distance in 2.64+or-0.08 to 3.12+or-0.03 h at an average speed of 1.73+or-0.01 m/sec in a continuous work during winter season. The DM, CP and DCP intake had insignificant effect on metabolic body size basis while, significant differences were observed among the treatments irrespective of total digestible nutrient intake (TDNI). However, the total water intake (litres) was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by various dietary treatments with lower value in T₃ followed by T₂ and T₁. The respiratory frequency (79.9, 45.57 and 39.88%), pulse rate (37.91, 29.92 and 21.24), and body temperature (2.54, 1.96 and 1.52%) were higher over the initial values. It is concluded that the nutrient utilization and draught performance was better in camels fed with higher energy levels of concentrate and covered distance without any hurdle and also tolerate the work stress efficiently without any apparent ill effect on the health.