Department of Animal Production and Management, college of Veterinary science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara: Guwahati-781 022
Twenty one crossbred (Beetal x Assam local, F1) female kids between 5–6 months of age were selected to study the effect of managemnt system on growth performance and behaviour. The kids were divided into 3 groups each consisting of 7 kids considering age and nearness of body weight. Each group was then randomly assigned to one of the treatments, viz. zero grazing with concentrate supplement (Group I), browsing/grazing with concentrate supplement (Group II) and browsing/grazing without supplement (Group III) for a period of 140 days. The average initial body weight of kids were 9.26±1.35, 9.24±1.27 and 9.26±0.99 kg and the final body weight 15.43±1.52, 15.63±1.43 and 14.14±1.15 kg for Group I, II and III respectively. The corresponding values of body weight gain per day were found as 43.57±1.57, 45.43±1.73 and 35.00±2.28g respectively, which were different statistically (P<0.05). The behavioural pattern viz. time spent in feeding, ruminating and drinking was comparatively higher in Group II and III than to Group I, however, resting time was observed to be more in Group I.
