Present Status of Dairy Calf Management in Semi Intensive System in Welimada, Sri Lanka

Abstract

''Young calves stock requires greater attention, particularly under stressful tropical conditions to obtain a productive adult animal. Objective of this study was to investigate the different aspects of calf management practices and mortality rate in semi-intensive dairy farms in Welimada area. According to the number of animals, 140 semi intensive farms were selected, using purposive sampling technique. The farm sizes were, small (No. of animals<4), medium (Number of animals 4-7) and large (Number of animals >8). The majority of the calves were found to be cross bred animals of European breeds namely Jersey and Friesian. Average birth weight of calves in the study area was 32.5 ± 1.33 Kg for Frisian crosses and 28.5 ± 2.53 Kg for Jersey crosses. Average body weight at 3 month was satisfactory. However, post weaning body weight gain was badly affected by poor feeding. The weight of female calves were significantly (p< 0.05) greater than male calves for all groups and was distinctive in post weaning ages. All the farmers weaned their calves around 3 months of age. Medium (3.37 ± 0.45) and large farms (3.56 ± 0.57) fed milk for significantly longer period than small (3.34 ± 0.45 months) farms.. Forage was introduced to calves earlier in small (2.27 ± 0.26) and medium size farms (2.6±o.42) (pco.ooi) than in large size farms (349±o.49 month). Small (4.67±0.25 month) and medium (4.74 ±0.42) farms introduced concentrate earlier for their calves than large farms (5.11 ±0.23). Calf mortality was high in all the farms in the area. Large farms reported significantly (p< 0.05) higher calf mortality rate than small and medium farms. . There was a significant high mortality rate (X2= 6.65) among male calves than females. It is concluded that, feeding management and the care of the calves after weaning calves was unsatisfactory in the study area.