Buffalo calf health care in commercial dairy farms: a field study in Uttar Pradesh (India)

摘要

ThepresentstudywasconductedonninetycommercialdairyownersintheBareillydistrictofUttarPradeshbyselecting30livestockownerseachfromsmall,mediumandlargesizedairyfarmsandtheirdairycalfmanagementpracticeswerestudiedindetail.Resultsofthestudyindicatethatcalvesarehighlyneglectedinthecommercialdairyfarms.Theherdstructureofthesedairiesrevealsthatoutoftotalsampleonly22.22percentofthedairyownershadcattlecalveswhile33.33percenthadbuffalocalves.Thecalfhealthcarepracticesinthecommercialdairyfarmsareverypoor.Infactthesedairyownersfindthecalfrearinguneconomicalnbsp;Thepoorcareofcalvesinthecommercialdairiesisrevealedbythefactthatthemortalityrateinbuffalocalvesinthesedairieswas81.09percent.Thisismainlyduetothepoormanagementofcalveswhicharenotevengiventheminimumcareofnavalcorddisinfection,timelycolostrumsfeeding,deworming,appropriatespace,propermilkfeedingandtimelytreatment.Infactitcanbesaidthatthesedairyownersarereallynotinterestedinrearingthecalvesduetothenotionoffalseeconomyprevailingamongtheseownersthatrearingofcalfisnotbeneficial.