MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS/CALVES

Management is of 2 types:

1. According to physiological stage.
2. Feeding management, breeding management, health management and housing and sanitation

MANAGEMENT OF CALVES

1. To get an alive and healthy calf.
2. To get optimum growth rate.
3. To keep the calf healthy.
4. To reduce the calf mortality.

It is fact that nearly 50 % calves die up to 2 months of age. This is the big loss not only for the farmers but it also weakens the national economy as we have to face the challenge of animal protein deficiency for our masses.

FACTORS LEADING TO HIGH CALF MORTALITY ARE:

1. Delayed colostrum feeding.
2. Naval ill.
3. Parasitism.
4. Pica.
5. Theleriasis
6. Certain diseases such as white scovers, dympany and some mineral deficiencies.
7. Hair boll.
8. Under feeding of calves.

1. DELAYED COLOSTRUM FEEDING:

There is one tradition that colostrum is fed to calves after dam’s placenta expulsion. Recommendation is to feed the colostrum within 1 hour after calving because the immunoglobulin absorption decrease with the passage of time after calving and it is almost zero at 24 hrs. Immunoglobulin is the only weapon to develop immunity.

2. NAVAL ILL:

There is one tradition that naval cord is not cut with an idea that it will dry and slough off. Butt so many times before drying it breaks from any spot; the point from where it breaks is the best place for the entry of bacteria. These bacteria multiply that lead to the swelling of cord known as omphlitis. Due to high severity, this leads to septicemia and then death. Simple solution is to cut the naval cord.

3. PARASITISM:

Due to high parasitism, up to 50 % drop in growth rate occurs. This leads to late maturity. Parasites are of 2 types:

1. INTERNAL PARASITES

These include nematodes, trematodes, custods etc. The high EPG (egg per gram) will lead to weakness, emaciation and finally death.

SOLUTION

• Properly wash the teats of dam.
• If the calf is licking, then use muzzle.

Licking may be due to:

• Habit
• Deficiency of phosphorus (in this case use phosphorus supplement)

b) EXTERNAL PARASITES

These include lice, ticks, mites, flies etc. These are actually the blood suckers.

4. PICA:

Eating of undesirable things due to phosphorus deficiency is known as pica. In this case, use grains, if grains are not available then use DCP, if DCP is also not available then use SUPER JUICE. SSP can also be used.

PREPARATION OF SUPER JUICE

Take 1 kg fertilizer (DCP or SSP). Add it in 5 liter water and mix it thoroughly. Keep it for 12 hrs , and then collect the super juice without disturbing the settled matter. Give 25-50 ml per day depending upon the weight of calf.

The following management practices are important to minimize the mortality rates in calves:

1. Feed colostrum within 1 hour.
2. Injection butalex at the age of 10 days in case of Theleriasis in cross-bred calves.

SYMPTOMS of THELERIASIS:

106 F temperature, swelling under ears, bulging of eyes.

3) NAVAL CORD CARE.

4) Do Deworming at the age of 1 month and repeat it after every 3 months. Always use new salts of dewormer in each time. 3 salts of dewormer are common in Pakistan:

* ALBENDAZOL

* OXFENDAZOL

* LEVAMIZOL

5. Prevent the problem of white scovers by washing the teats of dam prior to calf feeding and use clean utensils for feeding of calves. We can use TRIMODIN BOLUS @ 1 bolus per 40 kg body weight.
6. Feed the calf according to recommendations especially do measures to prevent the problem of mineral deficiency.

CALF FEEDING SCHEDULE:

Calf age ( weeks )	Milk ( body weight)	Calf starter (gm)	Green fodder
1st	10 %	-	-
2nd	10	10	Fodder leaves
3rd	10	20	adlibitum
4th	10	-
5th	10	-
6th	10	-
7th	As on 6th week
8th	Reduce 1/6 of 7th week
9th	Reduce 1/6 of 8th week
10th	Reduce 1/6 of 9th week
11th	Reduce 1/6 of 10th week
12th	zero

Early weaning is the best at 8^th week of age. We can wean the calf earlier by introducing the calf starter in the feed regime of the calf @ 1 % body weight.

(Offered By Mr. Zeeshan Javed)

Do you Like this story..?

Get Free Email Updates Daily!	Follow us!