CALF MANAGEMENT UPTO 90 DAYS OF AGE

Attending to new born calf:

Just after birth we should assist in removing the phlegm (mucus) from the nostrils of the new
born calf and the calf should be dried by wiping with a clean towel. Respiration of the calf must
be ensured. The navel chord of the calf should be cut with sterilized scissor leaving 2-3 cm from
the body and painted with antiseptics like tincture of iodine to prevent entry of infection through
the navel.
Colostrum feeding:
The first milk of mother is called colostrum. It contains large amount of gama globulins which
are nothing but antibodies produced by the cow against antigens encountered during her life.
Absorption of these antibodies provides the calf with an umbrella of passive immunity against
many diseases in early life. Besides, colostrum is a highly fortified source of nutrients having 7
times the protein and twice the total solids of normal milk. Thus it gives an early boost in protein
and solid intake. It also contains a higher amount of vitamins and minerals compared to milk. A
calf when born is having little or no antibodies and vitamin-A, which are essential to combat
disease. Colostrum feeding helps in removing meconium due to its laxative property. Newborn
calf should void meconium in 4 to 6 hours of first colostrum feeding and first faeces are tarry in
colour.
Time of feeding colostrum:
To be of any value of the calf for passive immunity, the gama globulin must be absorbed as such
across its intestinal wall into the blood stream without being broken down into the constituent
peptides of amino acids. The intestinal wall of the calf will allow the globulins to pass from
inside of the intestine to the blood stream for only a short period of time after the calf is born.
This permeability is lost rapidly after the first few hours of life (1-2 hours). Taking this into view,
it will be highly useful to feed colostrums in the first 15-30 minutes followed by a second dose in
approximately 10-12 hours.

Substitute of colostrum: One dose

Fresh egg: 1 piece, Water: 300ml, Castor oil: Half tea spoon full & Whole milk: 600ml
Quantity of colostrum to be fed:
A calf should receive colostrum during the first 3 days. Quantity of colostrum to be fed to calves
depends on their body weight.
In most of the Indian conditions it is recommended to fed colostrum at a rate of 1/10th of body
weight for 5 days.

Milk should be boiled and cooled to body temperature (39°C) before feeding.

Training of calf for pail feeding of milk:

Weaned calves should be trained to drink milk from pails so that feeding management is easier.
Generally crossbred calves learn quickly to drink milk from pail or nipple. But it is little difficult
to train buffalo calves. Buffalo calves are lazy and slow in learning to drink milk or milk replacer
from the pail or bucket. The scheduled quantity of boiled and cooled milk is poured in the milk
pail and should be moved to the calf. The attendant should first dip his two fingers (index and
middle fingers) in to the milk after cleaning and kept close to the mouth of calf. After testing the
milk calf will start suckling the fingers. Gradually the fingers should be lower to the pail and
should be dipped in to the milk. When the calf takes one or two mouthfuls of milk remove the
fingers. This process may be repeated whenever the calf stops drinking and lifts its head.
Training of buffalo calves required patience and efforts.