BIRTH WEIGHT AND BIOMETRY OF MITHUN UNDER FARM CONDITIONS

摘要

Due to semi- wild naturettf mithun, no systematic study on the animal has yet been conducted although some sporadic reports on its birth weight were available. The weight and biometry at birth are considered essential to predict its subsequent growth.The institute started rearing mithuns in captivity in its farms and therefore a systematic study on birth weight and biometry of twenty-seven farm born mithun calves was conducted. The average birth weight irrespective of sex, was found to be 19.74±0.73 kg, Body length, heart girth, wither height and head length were recorded to be 58,76±0.01 cm, 65.33±0.73 cm, 62.14±0.73 cm and 16.72±0.20 cm respectively. There existed a significant correlation (p<0 05) between the birth weight and body measurement traits and heart girth appeared to be a better predictor (R2=46.8%) of birth weight in mithun.