Colostrum provision and care of calves among smallholder farmers in the Kaziranga region of Assam, India

Abstract

Smallholder cattle farming in Assamese villages is sub-optimal in terms of calf survivability, growth, age at first service, and milk yield. Proper understanding of the local situation is essential to formulate appropriate, locally driven, livestock keeper education to sustainably improve animal health, welfare and productivity. In-depth interviewing and direct observation were used to understand the farming strategies, husbandry practices and challenges to health and productivity in a cluster of typical villages in the Kaziranga region of Assam, India, where resource use is balanced between the needs of humans and livestock, with competition from wild species. Knowledge of the importance of colostrum consumption by calves is poor. Timely consumption of sufficient colostrum (locally called "phehu") by calves was clearly sub-optimal in the majority of households. The reasons behind this are nuanced, but the practice of collecting colostrum from newly calved cows to make confectionery for human consumption is an important contributory factor. Care of the umbilicus of the newborn is not routine practice in the locality. Local women are the key group assisting with young and sick animals, including cases of simple dystocia and retained foetal membranes. Cows are usually milked once daily, to attempt to balance the needs for milk of household with those of the calf, which can result in suboptimal nutrition for calves. There are clear opportunities to improve animal health and productivity through locally provided farmer education, particularly with reference to colostrum provision, and the engagement of women farmers in any such programme is key to success.

Livestock vaccination programme participation among smallholder farmers on the outskirts of National Parks and Tiger Reserves in the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Assam

“…Better efficiency of livestock keeping as part of mixed smallholder enterprises in low and middle income countries (LMICs) has the potential to improve resource utilisation, profitability, childhood nutrition, and empowerment of rural women [1][2][3][4]. Infectious diseases are a major cause of losses [5], and the effect on smallholder households is magnified due to reduction in milk for childhood nutrition; lost cultivation days by draught animals; reduction in manure for agricultural fertiliser; time and cost of nursing sick animals; expense and difficulty of sourcing replacement animals; and emotional harm suffered by households due to the death of animals, which may be highly regarded as part of the household [6]. Inefficiency in production, in part due to livestock disease, results in increased greenhouse gas emissions contributing to the climate crisis, which disproportionately affects the rural poor [5].…”

Animal health perceptions and challenges among smallholder farmers around Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India: A study using participatory epidemiological techniques

“…Planned programmes of vaccination for foot and mouth disease, haemorrhagic septicaemia, goat pox and Newcastle disease would have the potential to yield great benefits, while biosecurity education could help to limit the introduction and spread of these diseases. Education on care of neonatal ruminants, and particularly adequate colostrum feeding, could help reduce the incidence of diarrhoea and other causes of mortality and ill thrift in young animals [15]. Grazing management education could assist in the control of flukes, gastro-intestinal nematodes, and some causes of diarrhoea and bloat, as well as leading to more efficient use of available grazing resources, and this can be combined with the targeted use of anti-parasitic medications under the guidance of veterinary clinicians or paraprofessionals.…”

“…Animal keepers must devote time to the care of sick animals and veterinary medicines may not be affordable to all farmers. Provision of colostrum for neonatal calves in the region is frequently suboptimal, in part due to human consumption of bovine colostrum [15]. Infectious diseases known to be present in the region include foot-and-mouth disease, haemorrhagic septicaemia, Newcastle disease, classical swine fever, black quarter, anthrax and brucellosis [16].…”

Effect Of Conventional Or Standard Colostrum Feeding Protocol On Immune Response And Total Serum Proteins Of Newborn Nili Ravi Buffalo Calves

“…After the birth the new born calves are protected as well as nourished through colostrum and milk provided by their mothers. This is the survival of bovine species in the environment (Hopker et al 2020). The new born buffalo calves require immunity during fetal as well as after birth.…”