National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
|
PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Present study investigated factors associated with calf mortality under field condition. Information regarding calf management and calf mortality were collected from 160 respondents of Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Majority of respondents were literate (78.75%). Farmers mostly allowed suckling of calves for colostrum within 1 to 2 hours after birth (72.5%) and offered 1-2 liters colostrum per day (61.25%). They allowed calves for suckling before and after milking (73.75%) but 26.25% allowed one teat completely for suckling. Very few farmers practiced weaning (15.63%) whereas, 60.63% farmers offered calf starter. Farmers mostly preferred to house the calves in one side of shed (91.88%). About 43.75% farmers dewormed advanced pregnant dams, but majority of farmers dewormed healthy calves from birth to one month (79.37%). Very few farmers practiced cutting of navel cord followed by disinfection (17.50%). In most instances, farmers called veterinarians or paravets for treatment of diseased calves (83.75%). Incidence of calf mortality was observed to be 16.03% which differed significantly with herd size (P<0.001). Calf mortality was significantly higher (25%) in small size herd followed by 15.09% in medium and 6.51% in large size herd (P<0.001). Correlation study revealed that sooner the calves were fed with colostrum after birth then their survival rate increased significantly (r = 0.249, P=0.001). Deworming of pregnant dam significantly reduced calf mortality (r = -0.167, P=0.034). There was a trend of increase in calf survival as soon as they were dewormed after birth (r = 0.153, P=0.053). Taken together it may be concluded that majority of farmers were aware about better calf managemental practices, and certain calf management practices were significantly associated with calf mortality under field condition in Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
Citations |
 |
 |
 |
 |
