Response in growth of osmanabadi weaned kids to various housing patterns*

Twenty four Osmanabadi weaned kids of similar age and body weights were randomly allotted to six housing patterns viz., T₀: Floor murum with no ventilator + thatch roof (control), T₁: Floor murum with no ventilation + tin roof, T₂: Floor murum with one ventilator + thatch roof, T₃: floor murum with one ventilator + tin roof, T₄: floor murum with two ventilators + thatch roof and T₅: Floor murum with two ventilators + tin roof. All the kids were maintained on the common feeding regime of available roughages and home-made concentrate mixture. The observations on body weight gains showed significant (P<0.01) differences among the treatments means. The kids kept under T₂ (12.30 kg) and T₄ (12.42 kg) showed superior growth to those under other treatments. Providing ventilation proved significantly superior (P<0.01) for body weight gains as compared with no floor ventilation. However, no significant gains in live weight could be recorded by providing either one or two floor ventilators. Provision of various roofs to the shed resulted in significant differences among the mean values of body weight gains. Covering the roof with a thatching materials proved beneficial and resulted significantly (P<0.01) higher body weight gains over to tin roofing. The cost of one kg gain in body weight was highest (Rs.9.41) in T₁ (tin roof with no ventilator) whereas lowest (Rs. 7.80) in T₂ (thatch roof with two ventilators). It is concluded that thatch roofed house with floor ventilation is economical for the better comfort and growth of the kids.