CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF

DAIRY ANIMAL
 CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF CALF

• We must give good feeding and management for the calves so that they
develop well and useful for replacement stock.

• The feeding and care of the calf begins before its birth.

• The dam should be dried 6-8 weeks before expected calving and should be
fed well.

• Underfed animals will give weak and small calves.

 Early Management
 Immediately after birth remove any mucous or phlegm from those nose and
mouth.
 Normally the cow licks the calf immediately the birth. This helps dry off the calf
and helps in stimulating breathing and circulation. When the cows does not lick
or in cold climate, rub and dry the calf with a dry cloth or gunny bag. Provide
artificial respiration by compression and relaxing the chest with hands
 The Naval should be tied about 2-5 cm away from the body and cut 1 cm below
the ligature and apply Tr. Iodine or boric acid or any antibiotic.
 Remove the wet bedding from the pen and keep the stall very clean and dry in
condition.
 The weight of the calf should be recorded.
 Wash the cow’s udder and teats preferably with chlorine solution and dry. Allow
the calf to suckle the first milk of the mother i.e. Colostrum.
 The calf will be standing and attempts to nurse within one hour. Otherwise help
the weak calves.
 Feeding of Calves
 Feed Colostrum i.e. the first milk of the cow for the first 3 days. The colostrum is
thick and viscous. It contains higher proportions of Vit A and proteins. The proteins
are immunoglobulin which gives protection against many diseases. Colostrum
contains antitrypsin which avoid digestion of immunoglobulins in the stomach and
is absorbed as it is.
 Whole milk should be given after 3 days. It is better to teach to drink the milk from
the pail or bucket. Feed twice a day which should be warmed to body temperature.
For weak calves feed thrice a day.
 The limit of liquid milk feeding is 10 % of its body weight with a maximum of 5-6
litres per day and continue the liquid milk feeding for 6 to 10 weeks. Over feeding
causes ‘Calf Scours’.
 The milk replacer can be given to replace whole milk.
 Give calf starter after one month of age.
 Provide good quality green fodder and hay from 4th month onwards.
 Feeding of antibiotics to calves improves appetite, increases growth rate and
prevents calf scours. E.g. aureomycin, Terramycin etc.
 Other Management Practices

1. Identity the calf by tattooing in the ear at birth.

2. Dehorn the calf within 7-10 days after birth with red hot Iron or caustic
potash stick or electrical method.
3. Deworm the calf regularly to remove worms using anthelmentic drugs.
Deworm at 30 days interval.
4. Fresh water should be given from 2nd week onwards.
5. House the calves in individual calf pens for 3 months and afterwards in
groups. After six months males and females calves should be housed
separately.
6. Weigh the calves at weekly interval upto 6 months and at monthly
interval afterwards to know the growth rate.
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7. Mortality in calves is more in first month due to Pneumonia, Diarrhoea

(calf scour) and Worms. House them under warm condition, clean
condition to avoid above condition.

8. Extra teats beyond 4 should be removed at 1-2 months of age.

9. 8-9 weeks of age, males should be castrated.

10. Keep the body clean and dry to avoid fungal infection.

11. Mineral-blocks should be provided, so that the calves lick and there will
be no chances for mineral deficiency.

12. Wean the calf from the mother and feed through pail feeding system.
 CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF HEIFER
Better Care and Management of heifer will give high quality replacement
stock to the dairy farm. The following care and Management practices are
recommended for a heifer.

• Feed the heifer suffi ciently to produce normal growth. During the early
stage relatively more protein than energy is needed. Most heifers grow
well if excellent hay is given as much they can eat. The amount of growth
depends upon the quality of forage fed.

• The heifers should be provided with a dry shelter free from drafts. A loose
housing system with a shelter open to one side is sufficient.
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• The size rather than the age of a dairy heifer at breeding time is
important.

• Breeding under sized animals is never profitable.

• They may be stunted or slow to reach maximum size.

• Small heifer is more likely to have difficulty in calving.

• Though the heifer that is bred to calve at an older age yields higher milk
yield in the first lactation, the total milk produced by such a cow will be
less when compared to the heifers that freshens at an early age.

• Usually the heifer is bred to freshen at 24-30 months of age.

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• The heifer should be glowing and in good flesh at calving time. This is
necessary so that she can produce milk at the most profitable level.

• Place the heifer in a separate shed about 6-8 weeks before she is due to
calve.

• Feed 2 - 3 kg of concentrate daily and all the forage she eats.

• Before calving let the heifer becomes accustomed to handling and to the
procedures used in the milking herd. Always handle her gently and with
kindness.
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• Maintenance of health among heifers is very important for proper growth.

The health among the heifers is maintained by hygienic housing, clean
water, balanced feeding and taking necessary preventive steps against
common diseases.

• Periodically the heifers in the herd should be checked for their proper
growth and other progress. Animals lagging behind below the required
standards should be removed from the herd.

• For the heifer the calving is first time and it may have difficulty in calving.
So take extra care during calving
 CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF MILCH ANIMAL

To get high milk during any lactation, the milch animal should be
properly fed and necessary care and managemental practices
should be followed.

• Provide green succulent forage together with leguminous hay or

straw to the extent of animal can consume, so that all its
maintenance requirements are met with through forage only.

• Extra concentrate at the rate of 1 kg for every 2 to 2.5 liters of milk

should be provided.

• Salt and mineral supplements should be given to maintain the

lactation.

• Never frighten or excite the animals. Always treat them gently and
with kindness.
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• With proper feeding and care, a cow will come to heat within 60 days of
calving.

• Do not with hold service unnecessarily after the signs of heat are noticed
in a cow.

• The shorter the calving interval, the more efficient the animal is as a milk
producer. By maintaining proper records of breeding and calving of the
animals will ensure a steady flow of milk throughout the year.

• Individual attention to feed each animal according to its production is a

must. For this purpose maintain individual production records.

• Keep up regularity of feeding. Concentrate mix is fed before or during

milking, when as roughages after milking. This practice will avoid dust in
the shed.
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• Water should be provided to drink at will or at frequent intervals.

• Regularity in milking is essential. Increase of milk in the udder will reduce

further secretion of milk. Milking thrice is better than twice since 10 -15 %
more milk can be produced.

• Rapid, continuous, dry hand milking should be practiced without undue

jerking of teats. Milking should be done with whole hand, but not with
thumb and index finger.

• Cows should be trained to let down milk without calf suckling.

• Loose housing with shelter during hot part of the day should be provided.
The animals will get maximum exercise in loose housing system.

• Grooming of the cows and washing of the buffaloes before milking help in
clean milk production. Daily brushing will remove loose hair and dirt from
the coat. Grooming will also keep the animal’s hide pliable.
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• Wallowing of buffaloes or water spraying on their bodies will keep the

buffaloes comfortable especially in summer.
• Common ailments should be properly detected and treated.
• Common vices should be properly detected and care should be taken i.e.
Kicking, licking, suckling etc.
• Provide at least 60 - 90 days dry period between calving. If the dry period
is not sufficient, the milk yield is subsequent lactation will be reduced.
• Vaccinate the cows- against important diseases and also guard against
insects and pests.
• Every animal should be numbered and particulars pertaining to milk, fat %,
feed taken, breeding, drying and calving dates should be recorded.
• Check for mastitis regularly.
 CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF DRY AND PREGNANT
ANIMAL

• The good care and managemental practices given to pregnant animal will
give good calf and also high milk yield during the successive lactation.
• Extra concentrate mix of 1.25 to 1.75 kg should be provided for pregnant
animal as pregnancy allowance. Feed good quality of leguminous fodder.
The animal should not be ‘not - lean – not fat’ condition.
• Provide clean drinking water and protection from thermal stress.
• Do not allow them to mix with other animals that have aborted or that are
suffering from or carriers of diseases like brucellosis.
• Allow moderate exercise, which helps in calving normally. Do not tire them
by making long distances especially on uneven surfaces.
• Do not allow them to fight with other animals and take care that they are
not chased by dogs and other animals.
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• Avoid slippery conditions, which causes the animal to fall receiving

fractures, dislocation etc.
• If accurate breeding records are available, calculate the expected date of
calving. Separate it one or 2 weeks before and shifted to individual
parturition pens. These pens are thoroughly cleaned and fresh bedding may
be provided.
• Feed one kg extra concentrates during last 8 weeks of gestation. Feed
laxative about 3 - 5 days before and after calving (Wheat bran 3 kg +0.5 kg
of Groundnut cake + 100 gm of mineral mixture of salt).
• Symptoms of delivery may be observed i.e. swelling of external genitalia,
swelling of udder; usually majority of animals will deliver without any help.
If there is any difficulty, provide veterinary help.
• After parturition external genitalia, flank should be cleaned arid protect the
animal from chill and give warm wafer.
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• Placenta will normally leave the cow within 2 - 4 hours after calving.

• Take care of the animal before calving from milk fever. Give calcium
supplement.

• Sometimes the udder will be swollen just before calving. Remove the milk
partially.

• Take care, of the animal, if at all any abortion.

• Provide always free access to drinking water.

 CARE AND MANAGENT OF BULL

• The maintenance of breeding bulls in good condition and suitable for

breeding is highly essential requirement for the success of breeding
programmes.

• Fat males may produce semen of inferior quality or they may be slow or
fail at service.

• Breeding bull should receive plenty of exercise; will usually produce large
ejaculation containing more sperms of higher activity.

• A breeding bull should be housed separately known as “Bull Shed” with

sufficient area of floor and proper covering.

• It is sound practice to provide cool conditions and adequate drinking water.

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• A balanced ration should be fed containing adequate energy, proteins,

minerals, and vitamins.
• Green fodder must be available both before and during breeding season.
• Most of the bulls are ferocious and so control them properly using nose
rings etc.
• It is of great importance that males should be, fed regularly and not too
much at one time, and too little at another.
• Moderate exercise should be provided to keep the breeding bull in active
and non fatty conditions.
• Regular grooming of the breeding bull should be practiced.
• In buffalo bulls regular shaving may be practiced.
 CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF BULLOCK
• Bullocks are normally used for agricultural operations and or transport purpose.
• Some bullocks are ferocious and so control them properly with nose rope or
nose rings.
• The hooves of the bullocks should be provided with metal shoes to protect the
hooves from wear and tear.
• The working hours for bullocks are recommended as follows:
• a) Normal Work - 6 hours of carting or 4 hours of ploughing.
• b) Heavy Work - 8 hours of carting or 6 hours of ploughing.
• Sufficient roughages and 1-2 kg of concentrates may be provided for feeding of
bullocks during break period in works, the animal may be left for free grazing.
• The bullocks are housed in separate sheds with sufficient space and protection
from hot and cool conditions.
• Free access to drinking water is essential. Regular grooming of animals should
be practiced.