Effect of Altitudes and Seasons on Body Weight gain in Mithun Calves (Bos frontalis)

Abstract

A comparative study on body weight gain during different season at different altitudes in Mithun calves was carried out at Medziphema farm (300 MSL) and Porba farm (2100 MSL) Nagaland, India. The mithuns of either sex were selected and fed in confined condition. Body weight gain was 523.8 ± 70.6, 500.0 ± 31.9 and 642.8 ± 61.1g/day at Medziphema whereas it was 523.8 ± 79.6, 476.1 ± 30.1 and 547.6 ± 68.1 g/day at Porba, respectively during S1 (March - June), S2 (July - Oct) and S3 (Nov - Feb) season. Body weight gain (g/day) was 427.7 ± 0.04 and 470.55 ± 0.04 respectively at Medziphema and Porba. It was concluded that Mithuns can be reared at both higher and lower altitude without any significant difference in the body weight gain.