Nature, Extent and Determinants of Mortality of Buffalo Calves in Central Region of Uttar Pradesh Singh Rakesh Kumar1*, Sharma Ashwani Kumar2, Tripathi S.C.3, Singh Y.P.4 1ACTO/SMS, KVK, ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 2Principal Scientist (Agriculture Economics), ICAR- Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 3Professor (Veterinary and AH extension education), CoVAS, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand 4STO, ATIC, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012 *Corresponding author email id: rksaskvkiisr@yahoo.in
Abstract Analysis of 775 dairy animal (buffalo) at 150 farmers’ dairy units in Central Uttar Pradesh (India) reveals that the young stocks up to one year of age in an average dairy farm were 27.35 per cent of the total buffalo population (stock) and 75.99 per cent of the in-milk stock. The calf mortality including still births was 27.96 per cent on an average dairy farm, it ranged from 42.86 per cent for males to 20.74 per cent for female calves. The per farm male and female calf mortality was higher on large farms compared to small farms. The calf health management index was of average level, at 50 per cent of the recommended/optimal level. The status of calf health management practices like colostrums feeding at birth and the de-worming and parasite management was better (above 50%) compared to that of vaccination and disease management, calf starter feeding and the milk feeding. The main factor responsible for calf mortality was pneumonia and other respiratory problems (34.33%) followed by digestive/liver related ailments or enteritis (25.37%). The losses due to respiratory and digestive system diseases were higher on 0–3 age groups and its extent decreased with the increase in the age of the calf. A locally available herbal treatment promoted by KVK extension agency was found quite effective in controlling calf mortality (9.09%) compared to 18.18 per cent under chemical treatment and 31.82 per cent under no medical treatment under all farm categories. This treatment was also effective in reducing the incidence of other diseases as well as in improving the overall physical health of the calf. An effective health care and production management programme is called for to reduce the extent of calf mortality significantly. The locally available herbal product be exploited for commercial use by developing proper formulations of the product. The extension agencies need to encourage targeted extension programmes to educate the farmers in better controlling the calf mortality. Top Keywords Buffalo, Calves, Determinants, Extent, Mortality, Nature. Top |