EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FLOOR TYPES ON BODY CONDITION SCORE, DIRT SCORE, EGGS PER GRAM OF FAECES AND HOOF CONDITION IN STALL FED NELLORE BROWN RAM LAMBS

unknown. Twenty four Nellore brown ram lambs (15.32 ± 0.39 kg body weight) of 3-6 months aged were used to assess the effect of different floor types on body condition score (BCS), dirt score, eggs per gram (EPG) count of faeces and hoof condition under intensive rearing system for a period of 120 days. Lambs were assigned randomly to one of three treatments. Treatment groups were mud/gravel floor-control (T1; n = 8), concrete floor (T2; n = 8) and elevated plastic slatted floor (T3; n = 8). Significantly higher BCS observed in experimental groups in first (P<0.01) and eighth (P<0.05) fortnights, whereas the difference observed in other fortnights was not-significant. Significant (P<0.05) difference in dirt score was observed among three floor types and lowest dirt score was observed in lambs kept in T3 group. Higher dirt score indicated that the lambs reared on concrete floor were dirtier than lambs on mud floor whereas, lambs reared on elevated plastic slatted floor (low score) were cleaner than other two groups. There was a significant difference in EPG count of faeces among treatment groups. The EPG count of T3 group was significantly (P<0.05) lower from second to fourth month and T2 group also recorded lower EPG value in third month of the experiment indicating lesser incidences of parasitic infestation. The study also revealed significant (P<0.05) difference in hoof length among three treatment groups. Higher hoof length (cm) was recorded in T3 group throughout the experiment except the first fortnight. It is concluded that, elevated plastic slatted floor is recommended for rearing of ram lambs for higher BCS, cleanliness (dirt) score and lower EPG count of faeces together with a periodical hoof trimming for early marketability of healthy ram lambs.