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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: [email protected]
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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

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