The instructional livestock farm complex has been created by merging the Department of Agronomy and Livestock farm of Department of Livestock Production and Management from 01.04.2013.
The objective of this farm is to impart hands on practical training to the under graduate students,providing research facilities to post graduate students and being a model demonstration farm for the progressive farmers, women self-help group trainees and rural unemployment youths. Supply of breeding stock, fodder seeds and slips are the other important objective this farm.
The Instructional Livestock farm Complex consist of seven sections:
A modern dairy farm unit is functioning with 30 crossbred Jersey and Holstein Friesian cows. In addition to this one Kangayam bull and two cows are being maintained for teaching purpose. Average dairy milk production is around 150 liters, average milk yieldper animal is 9.45 liters and average peak yield is 15.05 liters/day/animal. Machine milking is practiced and the milk produced is supplied to staff of this college and to various departments at reasonable cost. As a demonstration unit a modern Herringbone milking parlour is functioning in this unit with a capacity to milk 4 animals at a time. A separate calf unit and heifer unit is functioning in this section. The dairy animals are vaccinated against Hemorrhagic septicemia (annual), Foot and Mouth Disease (once in 4 months). Form the total 508.15 acres of farm area, 350 acres of pasture land (native grasses and legumes) grown is utilized for grazing farm livestock in different monsoon seasons.
| Traits | Crossbred cattle |
|---|---|
| Age at maturity (months) | 17.21±0.80 (9) |
| Age at first calving (months) | 29.4±0.79 (9) |
| No. of services / conception | 2.52±0.40 (17) |
| Service period (days) | 74.17±7.43 (5) |
| Gestation period (days) | 280.78±5.13 (9) |
| Inter-calving period (days) | 399.86±22.73 (7) |
| Birth weight (kg) | 24±1.17 (9) |
| 305-day milk yield (kg) | 2881.68±416.74 (8) |
| Average daily milk yield/animal(kg) | 9.45 |
| Average Peak yield | 15.07±0.68 (19) |
| Dry period (days) | 71.86±18.20 (7) |
| Fat percentage in milk | 4.37 |
| SNF percentage in milk | 8.45 |
| Total solids (%) | 12.82 |
The sheep unit maintains Mecheri breed of sheep, at present48 sheep are maintained and total unit is functioning as self-sustained unit as University revolving fund scheme (Commercial sheep production). Apart from this, two Trichy black sheep also maintained for instructional purpose. These animals are vaccinated against Enterotoxaemia, FMD, PPR, Bluetongue and periodically dewormed with broad spectrum anthelminthetics. Dipping is done twice in a year (March and September months). Flock mating is practiced and there is two breeding seasons (major September to October and minor March to April months). These animals are supplemented with concentrate feed during morning hours followed by 8 hours of grazing.
| Traits | Sheep |
|---|---|
| Birth weight (kg) | 2.21 ± 0.04 (47) |
| Weaning weight (kg) | 12.10 ± 0.06 (47) |
| Weight at market age (kg) | 16.40 ± 0.10 (25) |
| Growth rate(g/day) | 109.9 (47) |
| Age at first lambing (days) | 466.33 ± 28.88 (6) |
| Lambing percentage (fertility) | 85.21 |
| Lambing rate | 94.87 |
| Mortality percentage | 4.27 |
| Tupping percentage | 78.37 |
In this section, three breeds of goats are being maintained viz., Tellicherry (91), Salem black (35) and Jamnapari (13). Goats are reared under semi intensive system of grazing (8 hours per day)with concentrate supplementation. ETV, FMD (foot and mouth disease), PPR, Bluetongue are the periodical vaccination practices. Kits are weaned at 3 months of age. Dipping is done twice in a year (March and September months).Pen mating is practices.
| Traits | Tellicherry Goat |
|---|---|
| Birth weight (kg) | 2.14 ± 0.04 (79) |
| Weaning weight (kg) | 11.53 ± 0.04 (73) |
| Weight at market age (kg) | 16.68 ± 0.14 (40) |
| Growth rate (g/day) | 104.5 |
| Age at first kidding (days) | 482.83 ± 28.64 (6) |
| Kidding interval (months) | 10.16 ± 0.14 (20) |
| Twinning percentage | 17.72 |
| Incidence of multiple births | 14 Nos. |
| Mortality percentage | 13.33 |
The swine unit consist of Large White Yorkshire (LWY) (23), Duroc (10) pigs and an experiential learning programme LWY on "Commercial pig rearing" is in progress with the sponsorship of ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), New Delhi (22.0 lakhs). Main objective is to give training to under graduate students. Piglets are weaned at 56th day and sold to progressive farmers. The pigs are vaccinated against classical swine fever and FMD (foot and mouth disease), regularly. Pigs are fed with concentrate feed, hand mating is practiced. Surplus male pigs are castrated, fattened and supplied to Department of Meat Science and Technology of this Institute.
| Traits | Large White Yorkshire Pigs |
|---|---|
| Litter size at birth | 10.6 ± 1.10 (10) |
| Litter size born alive | 9.2 ± 1.14 (10) |
| Litter weight at birth (kg) | 1.33 ± 0.12 (10) |
| Litter size at weaning | 7.9 ± 1.04 (10) |
| Litter weight at weaning (kg) | 15.09 ± 0.34 (10) |
| Birth weight (kg) | 1.15 ± 0.02 (95) |
| Weaning weight (kg) | 12.71 ± 0.03 (69) |
| Weight at market age (7th month)(kg) | 73.14 ± 0.37 (17) |
| Growth rate(g/day) | 128.1 |
| Mortality percentage | 13.46 |
A modern rabbitary on elevated platform cage house is first of its kind in India is functioning with two breeds of rabbit viz., White Giant (79 numbers) and Soviet Chinchilla (81 numbers). Hand mating is practiced; bunnies are weaned at 42nd day. Growers are sold after 2 months of age. Rabbits are fed with concentrate feed in the morning and green fodder hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus), muyal masal (Stylosanthus sp.) and subabul (Luceanaleucocephala) in the evening. Research on productive, reproductive performance and health related issues of rabbit has been studied and reported in peer reviewed journals.
| Traits | Soviet Chinchilla | White Giant |
|---|---|---|
| Litter size at birth | 5.1±0.1 | 5.1±0.1 |
| Litter size at weaning | 3.7±0.1 | 4.1±0.1 |
| Litter weight at birth (g) | 256.4±6.9 | 259.6±6.1 |
| Average weight of kit at birth (g) | 50.4±0.7 | 50.8±0.4 |
| Litter weight at weaning (g) | 2465.4±73.6 | 2432.6±68.7 |
| Average weight of kit at weaning (g) | 694.1±13.1 | 614.6±13.5 |
| Pre-weaning growth rate (g/d) | 15.3±0.3 | 13.4±0.3 |
Two thoroughbred horses are available for the purpose of teaching students about handling and management of horses to under graduate students.
Agricultural section of this unit is another major unit which involved in cultivation of fodder under irrigation (10 acres) and rain fed in an area of 30 acres. A self-sustained revolving fund scheme on "Production and sale of fodder seeds and slips" is in progress to supply fodder seed materials to progressive farmers. In addition to this, various agro-forestry models were established and maintained by this section. Establishment of farm ponds, strengthening and deepening of percolation ponds, water conservation works were carried out in this campus with the help of state sponsored part II scheme on "Establishment of forage farm (10 lakhs)". Establishment of lawns, Durantha and casurina hedges, ornamental plants and plantationtrees, were maintained in the college campus as close as possible to natural environment is another major task of this unit.
The following undergraduate courses are being offered to the B.V.Sc. & A.H, students regularly:
| Course No | Course Title | Credit hours |
|---|---|---|
| LPM 121 | Fodder production and grass land management | 1+1 |
| LFP 211 | Livestock Farm Practice (Non-credit) | 0+1 |
| LFP 221 | Livestock Farm Practice (Non-credit) | 0+1 |
Study Circle Programmes1. Fun/ Sport Animal study circle 2. Farm Animal Practice 3.Equine study Circle |
Non-credit | |
Entrepreneurial Training Programme1. Dairy Production 2. Sheep production 3. Pig production |
Non-credit | |
| Items | Price/ unit | Items | Price/ unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cow milk | Rs. 34.00/kg | Piglets up to 20 weeks | Rs. 2300 (up to 10 kg) and Rs. 180/kg if exceed 10 kg |
| Sheep below 1 year | Rs. 220/kg | 20-1 years of age | Rs. 140/kg |
| Sheep above 1 year | Rs. 160/kg | Above 1 year | Rs. 125/kg |
| Goat below 1 year | Rs. 250/kg | CO 4 hybrid Napier grass slips | Rs. 0.50/slip |
| Goat above 1 year | Rs. 200/kg | COFS 29 fodder sorghum | Rs. 400/kg |
| Rabbit 2-3 months | Rs.275/animal | Desmanthus seed | Rs. 500/kg |
| Rabbit 3-4 months | Rs.325/animal | Guinea grass seed | Rs.400/kg; Rs. 0.50/slip |
| Rabbit > 4 months | Rs.375/animal | Kolukkattai seed | Rs. 300/kg |
Sprinkler irrgation system for fodder crops
Disc ploughing for agro forestry model establishment in waste land
Drip irrigation system for coconut orchard
Drip irrigation system for Fodder crops
The Professor and Head,
Livestock Farm Complex,
Veterinary College and Research Institute,
Namakkal – 637 002, Tamil Nadu.
Email: ilfc-vcri@tanuvas.org.in
Phone : +91-4286-266572
