FACTORS INFLUENCING CALF GROWTH AND MORTALITY IN FIELD AND ORGANISED FARMS
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Date
1994
Authors
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES Mannuthy - Thrissur
Abstract
A study was undertaken to evaluate- the system of calf
raising in the field vis-a-vis that in organised farms, which
included contemporary calves born in field and organised
farms. Mavelikara was chosen as the study area from where the
experimental field calves were selected. University Livestock
Farm, Kerala Agricultural University and Dhoni Farm, KLD
Board, Palghat were chosen to represent organised farms in the
experiment.
All the calves born in the experimental area or farms
during a period of two months were included in the experiment.
Calves were studied upto a period of six months of age.
It was observed that climatic conditions in general
were similar at the three locations except that at ULF,
Mannuthy relative humidity and hours of bri.ght sunshine tended
to be less than the other two locations.
The male calves in the farms weighed heavier at birth
and gained faster to weigh significantly more at the 12th
fortnight compared to those in the field. There was no
significant difference in birth weight of farm and field born
female calves. However, those in the farms grew faster to
weigh significantly heavier at 12th fortnight. When male and
female calves in the farms and field were put together and
tested at 1st, 6th and 12th fortnights, the calves in the
farms weighed significantly heavier than those in the field at
all stages.
The daily weight gain during different fortnights was
higher in the farm grown calves compared to their counterparts
in the field.
There was no significant difference in height of male
calves in the farm ยป and field in the 1st fortnight but was
significantly higher in the farm grown calves in the 6th and
12th fortnights. There was no significant difference in the
height of the female calves in the farms and field in all the
three fortnights tested.
Information with respect to girth showed similar trend
as in the case of weight and height.
In the first fortnight, the male calves in the farms
measured significantly shorter in length than those in the
field but by 6th and 12th fortnights, they measured
significantly longer than male calves in the field. There was
no significant difference in length of female calves in the
field and farms during the time intervals tested.
In the field, calves received generally an adequate
amount of colostrum through suckling. Those in the farm were
fed 2-2.5 kg colostrum daily from the pail. The interval
between birth and first nursing varied from 15 min to 2 h in
the field. In the farms, calves born during day time received
colostrum within half an hour, while those born in night
received colostrum the next morning. Highest daily gain and
lowest mortality was seen in calves fed colostrum within 15
minutes.
It was observed that the quantity of milk available to
female calves in the field was comparable to that in the
farms. Male calves in the field received much lesser
quantity.
Female calves received more quantity of concentrates
compared to males except in the early fortnights.
Maximum daily gain of calves was observed in sheds
with concrete flooring and tiled roofs.
Monthly deworming was practised upto 12 months of age
in the two farms studied. In the field all calves were
dewormed during the 1st month only. Thereafter, female calves
were given more frequent deworming treatment. Vaccination
against Foot and Mouth disease was carried out in the farms
b\]t not in the field.
Good hygiene and daily grooming increased the daily
gain of calves. Better growth was seen when the animals were
looked after by men than women. Average dairy awareness was
Observed in 90 per cent of the farmers, naily gain of calves
increased with increased dairy awareness. People with high
school level education maintained their calves better than
those with higher or lower levels of education. Calves grown
by agricultural labourers seemed to have lower weight gain.
Calves reared in larger units of land had a greater daily
weight gain.
The mortality rate among calves was 14 per cent in the
field compared to 8.5 per cent in the farms. Mortality rate
of 66.6 per cent was seen when no colostrum was fed. There
was no mortality among calves fed colostrum within 15 minutes.
Male calves had higher mortality rate than female calves.
Higher mortality rate was observed in calves born to first
calvers. in field mortality was higher in 1st and 5th month
of age. Mortality rate was lower when calves were looked
after by men compared to women. The lowest calf mortality
rate was observed among calves owned by those who had high
school level education.
Mortality rate among calves seemed to decrease with
increasing dairy awareness of owners. Mortality rate of
calves was highest in shed i and premises with poor hygiene
(50%) followed by medium hygiene (11.11%) and good hygiene
(10.5%). Similarly daily grooming seemed to reduces mortality
rate (11.9%) compared to weekly grooming (25%).
At the end of 6 months, 92.85 per cent of the female
calves were retained by the farmers compared to only 36.36 per
cent male calves, clearly pointing towards the greater future
economic utility of the former.
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