17-Title: Performance and behavioural characteristics of beetal kids fed total mixed ration under stall-fed conditions
Authors: P Dhattarwal, M Singla, S Kaswan, RS Grewal and DS Malik
Source: Ruminant Science (2024)-13(1):107-112.

Abstract

How to cite this manuscript: Dhattarwal P, Singla M, Kaswan S, Grewal RS and Malik DS (2024). Performance and behavioural characteristics of beetal kids fed total mixed ration under stall-fed conditions. Ruminant Science 13(1):107-112.
Abstract
In this study, two types of total mixed rations (H-TMR: hay-based total mixed ration, and G-TMR: green fodder-based total mixed ration) were prepared and compared with traditional way of feeding (CON group: feeding forage and concentrate separately) during a 120-d study concerning their effects on body condition score (BCS), feeding and behavioural characteristics of grower Beetal kids. Twenty-four Beetal goat kids were assigned to three dietary treatments (n=8) based on age, gender and body weight. BCS revealed that Beetal kids fed G-TMR were found to have relative fatness over the period (P<0.05). Daily dry matter intake (DMI) was significantly higher for the H-TMR group with less feed wastage than other groups. Beetal kids fed hay-based TMR showed significantly more frequent (counts per hour) agonistic activity like bunting, grooming and ruminating while standing than that of control and G-TMR groups during the feeding time inside the pen. 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