Effect of housing systems on water intake and parasitic infestation in growing buffalo calves during summer and winter.

摘要

Eighteen Murrah buffalo heifers of 8 to 19 months of age were studied in each of the following seasons: hot-dry, hot-humid, mild-cold and severe-cold. Groups of 6 animals were housed either indoors (shed), indoors in the day and outdoors at night inthe summer and vice versa in the winter (shed+open), or outdoors all the time (loose), to study the effect of these housing methods on water intake and parasitic load for one year during summer and winter. Fresh voluntary water-intake was measured for 5consecutive days in every sub-season by adding up the voluntary water intake, water available through feed and fodder and the metabolic water. Dung samples were collected throughout the experiment from each calf at monthly intervals for the diagnosis ofparasitic infestation. Overall, housing condition did not have a significant effect on water-intake. However, the water consumed per kg W0.75 and per kg of dry matter intake was significantly higher in shed+open and loose groups than shed group. Water consumed per kg W0.75 was highest in the hot-dry season and lowest in the hot-humid season. No Ascaris infection or tick infestation was observed, but some strongyle eggs were seen, with the maximum number of calves infected being in the hot-humid seasonand minimum during the hot-dry season. The three housing systems did not differ in their effect on the incidence of parasites.