Study on Conventional vs. Artificial Rearing of Surti Buffalo Calves
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5455/ijlr.20180901040937Keywords:
Average Daily Gain, Body Weight, Milk Replacer and Surti Buffalo CalvesAbstract
Present investigation was conducted at Livestock Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat. Twenty-four Surti buffalo calves on 6th day of their age were divided into three groups viz. Control: suckling group, T1: whole milk feeding (10% body weight) and T2: commercial milk replacer (MR) (10% body weight). Perusal of data revealed that there was non-significant difference in the body weight of control, T1 and T2 group of calves at all test days. However, live body weight of T1 group was higher than control and T2 group of calves from 48 to 90 days. Average daily gain in body weight of T1 group of calves were higher than control and T2 group of calves at all stages except between 76-90th day of age. In T1 group of calves, total feed intake on dry matter basis was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control and T2 groups. Serum glucose concentration of T1 group (108.12±3.60 mg/dl) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than control (86.70±5.51mg/dl) and T2 group (88.42±5.63mg/dl) on 27 days of age. It was observed that incidence of diseases was more in T2 group calves than control and T1 group. Thus, it was concluded that live body weight and average daily gain was comparatively better for Surti buffalo calves raised artificially on whole milk than on milk replacer and calves raised under conventional calf rearing system.
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