Rana Ranjeet Singh

Estimation of Direct Additive Genetic and Maternal Variance for Growth Traits in Vrindavani Cattle

Abstract Singh, R.R., Dutt, T., Kumar, A. and Singh, M. 2010. Estimation of direct additive genetic and maternal variance for growth traits in Vrindavani cattle. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 38: 145–148. The growth records of Vrindavani calves were analyzed to estimate the variance components and genetic parameters using two univariate and a multivariate animal model based on algorithm of derivative free restricted maximum likelihood. These univariate animal models were simple animal model (AM I) and animal model with additional random maternal effect (AM II). The multivariate animal model (AM III) included all the traits under investigation by considering their relationship. For all growth traits (Birth weight and body weight at 3, 6 and 9 month) the estimate of additive genetic variance was highest in the simple animal model (AM I). The direct estimates of heritabilities were also inflated towards higher side for all the four traits using AM I. The multivariate animal models revealed lowest magnitude of direct additive genetic variances and thus direct estimate of heritabilities for all the traits. The direct estimates of maternal heritability ranged from 0.064 (Birth weight) to 0.197 (body weight at 6 month) and it was zero in 6 and 12 month body weights. The genetic correlations of birth weight with 3, 6 and 12 month body weights were low and non-significant because of significant impact of maternal effect on birth weight. However, the phenotypic correlations between traits were found to be positive and significant.

Effect of Body Condition Score on Performance Traits in Crossbred Dairy Cows

Abstract Singh, R.R., Dutt, T., Joshi, H.C., Sinha, R.R.K. and Singh, M. 2009. Effect of body condition score on performance traits in crossbred dairy cows. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 36: 283–286. Sixty crossbred cows from three different genetic groups (1/2 Holstein Friesian (F) × 1/2 Hariana (H), 1/2F x1/4 Brown Swiss × 1/4 H), (1/2Fx1/4 Jersey × 1/4 H) were randomly selected to study body condition score after calving and its association with performance traits. The correlations between body condition score and body weight at different stages of lactation were positively significant. The correlations between body condition score and peak yield were negative and significant at 42nd (-0.316) and 56th (-0.404) day of lactation. The effect of body condition score on other performance traits was found to be non- significant. It is concluded that high producing cows mobilize greater amount of body condition score than the low producing cows in early lactation.

Post parturient neonatal behaviour and their relationship with maternal behaviour score, parity and sex in Surti buffaloes

ABSTRACT Present study was conducted to investigate the post parturient behavioural activities of Surti buffaloes (n = 25) and their calves using low light-intensity cameras and digital video recorder at five stages (I: from calving to half an hour, II: 6–6:30 hours, III: 12–12:30 hours, IV: 18–18:30 hours and V: 24–24:30 hours after calving) over a period of 24 h immediately after calving. Based on their maternal behaviour score (MBS) dams were categorized into two classes that is, group 1 (MBS = 1: very aggressive and 2: very attentive) and group 2 (MBS = 3: indifferent and 4: apathetic) where dam scored MBS 1 represented very aggressive and 4 apathetic. Overall eating time was significantly (P < .05) higher in buffalo cows of group 2 (8.87 ± 1.34 min) than in group 1 (5.37 ± 0.50 min). Dams of both the groups spent significantly (P < .05) longer time in sniffing and licking calf’s body and licking ano-genital area of calf during stage I than later stages. Significantly (P < .05) longer time intervals from birth to standing (53.03 ± 3.04 min) were observed in group 2 calves. A positive correlation (P < .01) was observed between the time interval from birth to suckling and duration of active teat seeking (0.525). It may be inferred that post parturient neonatal behaviour have certain level of relationship with maternal behaviour score, whereas, parity and sex did not show any significant effect on MBS in Surti buffaloes.

Facets of Estrus Behavior in Surti Buffaloes

The Investigation was undertaken on sixteen healthy Surti buffaloes to document and characterize female sexual/estrus behavior in Surti buffaloes maintained at Livestock Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat. Perusal of data revealed that in about 56.25 per cent of animals showed estrus during morning while remaining 42.75 percent in the evening time. Result of this study indicated that restlessness, frequent urination and sniffing of vagina, chin resting, chasing, bellowing, being mounted by others, mounting others and tail raising was the estrus specific signs in Surti buffaloes. The overall estrus duration, onset of estrus to ovulation and estrus duration after end of estrus were 22.19 ± 0.75, 31.50 ± 0.87 and 9.31 ± 0.48 hrs, respectively.