Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T02:33:17.910Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of mother bonded rearing on growth, health and physiological state of Murrah buffalo calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 December 2022

Shwetambri Jamwal ,
Pawan Singh ,
Sanjay Choudhary ,
Madan Lal Kamboj  and
Rajneesh Thakur
Shwetambri Jamwal*
Affiliation:
Livestock Production Management Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
Pawan Singh
Affiliation:
Livestock Production Management Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
Sanjay Choudhary
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock Production Management, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana 141004, Punjab, India
Madan Lal Kamboj
Affiliation:
Livestock Production Management Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
Rajneesh Thakur
Affiliation:
Livestock Production Management Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
*
Author for correspondence: Shwetambri Jamwal, Email: rajsaya07@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We investigated the effect of different types of mother-young contacts (fenceline, restricted and no contact) on the health, growth performance, behaviour and physiological state of Murrah buffalo calves. A total of 24 calves were allocated to three groups of 8: NCM (no calf–mother contact), RCM (restricted calf–mother contact) and FCM (fenceline calf–mother contact). At three months of age, the FCM calves had a higher average body weight (58.6 ± 1.5 kg) than the RCM (52.8 ± 1.3 kg) and NCM (53.6 ± 1.3 kg) calves (P < 0.05). The average daily gain (ADG) at three months of age was greater in FCM (0.6 ± 0.1 kg/d) than RCM (0.5 ± 0.1 kg/d) and NCM (0.5 ± 0.1 kg/d) calves (P < 0.05). The mean immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were significantly greater on d 7, 28, 42 and d 56 of sampling (P < 0.05 for all comparisons) in FCM than RCM and NCM calves. The mean cortisol levels were highest in the NCM calves followed by RCM and the lowest values were observed in FCM calves on d 0, d 7, d 28, d 42 and d 56, respectively (P < 0.05, for all recorded days). The diarrhoea score and eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) were significantly greater in the NCM group compared to the RCM and FCM groups. The time spent in cross sucking, licking inanimate objects and self-licking was greatest (P < 0.05) in NCM calves, followed by RCM calves, and was almost non-existent in the FCM group on all the recorded weeks. Time spent in backward ear position was greater (P < 0.05) in FCM than RCM and NCM calves. The average time spent in forward ear position was greatest (P < 0.05) in the RCM calves followed by NCM with the lowest time observed in FCM calves. The mean duration of time spent by calves in the asymmetrical and axial ear position differed significantly (P < 0.05) among NCM, RCM and FCM calves, P < 0.05. The full and fenceline buffalo calf–mother contact system showed higher growth rates, lower levels of stress responses, oral stereotypies and eggs per gram of faeces. In addition, ear postures may be used as a dependable, and reliable measure of positive, low arousal emotional states.

Keywords

Buffalobehaviourcalvesfencelinemother-bonding
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 89 , Issue 4 , November 2022 , pp. 386 - 391
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Hannah Dairy Research Foundation

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aref, NEM, El-Sebaie, A and Hammad, HZ (2016) New insights on ill-thriftiness in early-weaned buffalo calves. Veterinary World 9, 579.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Battini, M, Agostini, A and Mattiello, S (2019) Understanding cows’ emotions on farm: are eye white and ear posture reliable indicators. Animals 9, 477.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bharti, PK, Dutt, T, Pandey, HO, Patel, BHM, Mahendran, K, Kaswan, S, Biswas, P and Upadhyay, VK (2015). Effect of weaning age on health of Murrah buffalo calves. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 85, 1370-1374.Google Scholar
Bharti, PK, Dutt, T, Patel, BHM, Pandey, HO, Gaur, GK, Singh, M, Kamal, R, Verma, KK and Upadhyay, D (2017) Impact of weaning age on post-partum reproductive performance and stress level in Murrah buffaloes. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 87, 432–434.Google Scholar
Blum, JW (2006). Nutritional physiology of neonatal calves. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 90, 1–11.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Choudhary, S, Kamboj, M, Jamwal, S, Pal, P, Arora, D, Ingle, V and Lathwal, S (2022) Effect of mother contact and voluntary colostrum suckling on growth, health and stress of neonatal buffalo calves. The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 92, 89–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Costa, JHC, Von Keyserlingk, MAG and Weary, DM (2016) Invited review: effects of group housing of dairy calves on behavior, cognition, performance, and health. Journal of Dairy Science 99, 2453–2467.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
De la Cruz-Cruz, LA, Bonilla-Jaime, H, Orozco-Gregorio, H, Tarazona-Morales, AM, Ballesteros-Rodea, G, Roldan-Santiago, P and Vargas-Romero, JM (2019) Effects of weaning on the stress responses and productivity of water buffalo in different breeding systems: a review. Livestock Science 226, 73–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Echeto, OV, Vargas, JD, Oviedo, MAV, de Vale, MO, Castejon, O and Garcia, M (2002) Blood serum immunoglobulins levels (IgM, IgG, IgA) in water buffaloes under two different weaning systems. Revista Cientifica-Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias 12, 193–201.Google Scholar
Froberg, S, Gratte, E, Svennersten-Sjaunja, K, Olsson, I, Berg, C, Orihuela, A, Galina, CS, Garcia, L and Lidfors, L (2008) Effect of suckling (‘restricted suckling’) on dairy cows’ udder health and milk let-down and their calves’ weight gain, feed intake and behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 113, 1–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hammon, HM and Blum, JW (1998) Metabolic and endocrine traits of neonatal calves are influenced by feeding colostrum for different durations or only milk replacer. The Journal of Nutrition 128, 624–632.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hassan, TM, Mahmoud, MS, Soliman, ASM, El-Mahdy, MR and Hassan, HZ (2019) Effect of Fence-line weaning on Egyptian buffaloes milk production & growth performance of their calves. Slovak Journal of Animal Science 52, 134–146.Google Scholar
Hedegaard, CJ and Heegaard, PM (2016) Passive immunisation, an old idea revisited: basic principles and application to modern animal production systems. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 174, 50–63.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnsen, JF, Zipp, KA, Kälber, T, de Passillé, AM, Knierim, U, Barth, K and Mejdell, CM (2016) Is rearing calves with the dam a feasible option for dairy farms? Current and future research. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 181, 1–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krohn, CC, Foldager, J and Mogensen, L (1999) Long-term effect of colostrum feeding methods on behaviour in female dairy calves. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section A-Animal Science 49, 57–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kumar, A (2014) Influence of weaning on the performance and behaviour of calves and their dams in Murrah buffaloes (Ph. D. Thesis). Deemed University NDRI Karnal.Google Scholar
Latham, NR and Mason, GJ (2008) Maternal deprivation and the development of stereotypic behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 110, 84–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lopez, JR, Elías, A and Delgado, D (2008) The feeding system of buffalo calves. Its influence on the species efficiency. Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science 42, 235–240.Google Scholar
Margerison, J, Preston, TR, Berry, N and Phillips, CJC (2003) Cross-sucking and other oral behaviours in calves, and their relation to cow suckling and food provision. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 80, 277–286.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mustafa, MY, Shahid, M and Mehmood, B (2010) Management practices and health care of buffalo calves in Sheikhupura district. Pakistan Buffalo Bulletin 3, 217–224.Google Scholar
Nardone, A, Ronchi, B, Lacetera, N, Ranieri, MS and Bernabucci, U (2010) Effects of climate changes on animal production and sustainability of livestock systems. Livestock Science 130, 57–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newberry, RC and Swanson, JC (2008) Implications of breaking mother young social bonds. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 110, 3–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pasha, TN (2013). Prospect of nutrition and feeding for sustainable buffalo production. Buffalo Bulletin 32, 91–110.Google Scholar
Proctor, HS and Carder, G (2014) Can ear postures reliably measure the positive emotional state of cows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 161, 20–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rath, R (2020) Studies on cognitive behaviour and its effect on performance of Murrah buffalo calves (PhD Thesis). Submitted to ICAR-NDRI Deemed University Karnal.Google Scholar
Reefmann, N, Kaszàs, FB, Wechsler, B and Gygax, L (2009) Ear and tail postures as indicators of emotional valence in sheep. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 118, 199–207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reimert, I, Bolhuis, JE, Kemp, B and Rodenburg, TB (2013) Indicators of positive and negative emotions and emotional contagion in pigs. Physiology & Behavior 109, 42–50.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sachser, N, Hennessy, MB and Kaiser, S (2011) Adaptive modulation of behavioural profiles by social stress during early phases of life and adolescence. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 35, 1518–1533.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Selman, IE, McEwan, AD and Fisher, EW (1971) Studies on dairy calves allowed to suckle their dams at fixed times post partum. Research in Veterinary Science 12, 1–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Singh, PK, Kamboj, ML, Chandra, S, Kumar, A and Kumar, N (2019) Influence of weaning on growth, health and behaviour of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves. Indian Journal of Animal Research 53, 680–684.Google Scholar
Sirovnik, J, Barth, K, De Oliveira, D, Ferneborg, S, Haskell, MJ, Hillmann, E and Johnsen, JF (2020) Methodological terminology and definitions for research and discussion of cow-calf contact systems. Journal of Dairy Research 87, 108–114.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smijisha, AS and Kamboj, ML (2012) Colostrum intake of weaned buffalo calves reared under different management practices. Tamilnadu Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 8, 42–44.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Jamwal et al. supplementary material

Table S1-S7

Download Jamwal et al. supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 99.3 KB