Author(s):
1. Muhammad Riaz:
Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
2. Muhammad Aziz Ur Rahman:
Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Abstract:
The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of calf rearing methods in Sahiwal cows on milk and feed intake, weight gain, body condition score, and locomotion score. We randomly selected the eight Sahiwal cows just before their calving and divided into two groups. After parturition, claves from both groups were reared under natural restricted suckling (RS) and bucket feeding system (BF) at Livestock Experimental Station, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Restricted suckling calves were allowed to suckle from cow's udder just before milking in the morning and evening (twice milking arrangement) up to weaning. In an artificial rearing system, calves were fed milk through bucket feeders @ 10% of their body weight up to weaning. Post-weaning data for two months were also conceded to complete the trial. The results for weight gain kg week-1 was significantly (P<0.05) higher in RS group (3.35± 0.15) than BF group (2.88 ± 0.31) calves. The average daily weight gain in RS (465 g) group was higher (P<0.05) as compared to BF group (332 g) in the pre-weaning phase (90 days). The average weekly weight gain was also higher (P<0.05) in RS group (3.26 ± 0.24) as compared to BF group (2.33 ± 0.36) up to weaning. There was no significant difference in weight gain of calves in RS group (3.64 ± 0.16) as compared to BF (3.23 ± 0.15) group in post-weaning. The results of milk composition did not show any difference (P>0.05), but the effect of the suckling method had demonstrated a positive impact on the health and growth performance in calves. A higher (P<0.05) level of cortisol concentration was found in BF group as compared to RS group. The Impact of mothering behavior was more critical in the pre-weaning phase on growth performance and the welfare of calves. Based on results, it was concluded that natural milk feeding had a positive effect in pre-weaning on the growth performance and welfare status of Sahiwal calves in addition to udder health of the dam. Detailed studies for postweaning weight gain are desired to study adaption and positive carry-over effect in RS group.
Page(s):
77-77
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Abstract Book on International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, August 27-31, 2023 , Volume: 0, Issue: 0, Year: 2023
Keywords:
performance
,
Sahiwal cows
,
cortisol
,
welfare status
,
rearing methods
References:
References are not available for this document.
Citations
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