Impact of an AI Heifer Calf Rearing Scheme on Dairy Stock Development in the Western Province of Sri Lanka

Nettisinghe, A. M. P.; Udo, H.M.J.; Steenstra, F.A.

doi:10.5713/ajas.2004.18

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…To reduce calf mortality and age at first calving of heifers in an artificial insemination heifer calf rearing scheme during the 1990s, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Livestock Development instigated a heifer rearing program which supported smallholders with subsidised calf meal together with free mineral mixtures, drugs and acaricides for 30 months. Nettisinghe et al (2004) reported the outcome amongst 100 smallholder farmers in the Coconut Triangle grazing and the peri-urban dairy production systems in the wet lowlands of Western Province. About 50 scheme and 50 non-scheme farmers were surveyed in the two production systems three years after the scheme finished and the data are summarised on Table 3.…”

Section: Sri Lankan Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors Affecting High Mortality Rates of Dairy Replacement Calves and Heifers in the Tropics and Strategies for Their Reduction

Moran¹

2011

Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci

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The tropics is not an ideal location for calf rearing as the high temperatures and humidities introduce many potential disease problems to milk fed calves. In addition, the type of dairy farming (generally poorly resourced small holder farming) and the general lack of awareness of the long term implications of poorly reared stock do not encourage farmers to pay close attention to their calf and heifer rearing systems. Surveys of calf rearing systems in Asia, tropical Africa and South America highlight the high calf and heifer mortalities. A range of 15 to 25% pre-weaning calf mortality is typical on many tropical dairy farms. It is often as high as 50%, indicating very poor calf management. This contrasts with US findings of less than 8% mortality from birth to 6 months while surveys of Australian farmers report only 3% losses. Simple extension programs on farms in Sri Lanka and Kenya have drastically reduced calf mortalities and improved pre-weaning growth rates. Improved management strategies leading to lower calving intervals, higher calving rates, reduced still born and pre-weaned calf mortalities and fewer non pregnant heifers can supply many more dairy herd replacements than currently occurs. Such strategies can increase the number of replacement heifer calves in the herd from 15 to over 35%, thus allowing farmers to increase their herd sizes through natural increases. Simple management procedures such as ensuring adequate intake of good quality colostrum within the first 12 hours of life, housing and good hygiene to minimise disease transfer, providing clean drinking water, developing appropriate feeding protocols to encourage early rumen development and paying closer attention to climate control and animal health can all lead to improved calf vigour and performance. Good record keeping is also important so farmers can more easily identify susceptible calves and quickly treat potential problems.

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Section: Sri Lankan Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The benefits in belonging to an AI heifer rearing scheme in the Western Province of Sri Lanka (study reported byNettisinghe et al, 2004) …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting High Mortality Rates of Dairy Replacement Calves and Heifers in the Tropics and Strategies for Their Reduction

Moran¹

2011

Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci

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Assessment of Major Causes of Calf Mortality in Urban and Periurban Dairy Production System of Ethiopia

Fentie

Guta

Mekonen

et al. 2020

Veterinary Medicine International

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A cross-sectional calf mortality study was conducted in urban and periurban dairy farms in Addis Ababa, special zones of Oromia and Amhara regions in July and August 2015. e objectives of the study were to estimate the annual mortality and to assess the major causes of calf mortality in the dairy farms. One-year retrospective data on calf mortality were collected from 330 farms by face-to-face interview using the pretested and structured questionnaire format and direct observation of farm practices. A logistic regression analysis was performed in order to identify the predictor variables associated with early calf mortality. Data were analysed using Statistical Package, Stata SE for Windows, version 12.0. e annual mean calf mortality from birth-to-weaning was reported as 18.5% (95% CI: 12.6, 24.3%). e prenatal loss due to fetal death and stillbirth was 10.1% (95% CI: 6.7, 13.6%). e overall annual loss due to fetal death and calf preweaning mortality was 26.7% (95% CI: 21.2, 32.2%). Age-specific mortality declined with increased age, and the highest mortality was recorded during the first month of life extending up to the third month of age. Disease was the most important causes of calf mortality (73.2%). Among the diseases, diarrhea (63%) and respiratory disorders (17%) were the important causes of calf mortality. Malpractices in calf management were identified, including restricted colostrum and milk feeding, poor care and supplemental feeding, and poor health management. Interventions in dairy cattle health and farm husbandry are recommended to control calf mortality.

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Effects of Some Management Factors on Milk Production in First-calf Heifers

Brouček¹,

Arave²,

Kišac³

et al. 2006

Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci

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The objective of this study was to investigate whether milk performance is impacted by the housing of heifers from the second to the seventh day of life, the method of feeding milk from the second week of life to weaning, the sire lineage and by the season of birth and season of calving. From 32 Holstein heifer-calves, which spent their first day of life in a loose housing maternity pen with their mother, 19 heifers were randomly placed in hutches (IH), and 13 stayed in a loose housing maternity pen (MP). At the seventh day IH heifers were assigned to one of two treatments, 10 heifers were randomly taken from IH and relocated to a loose housing pen with an automatic feeding station (AD), 9 calves stayed in hutches with bucket drinking (BD). MP heifers were moved to a group pen with nursing cows (UD). All animals were weaned at the age of 8 weeks (56 days) and kept in group pens. After calving, they were in freestall housing. Trial cows were divided according to the sire, season of birth and calving. The five-factorial ANOVA revealed that among all the factors taken into account in this study, only sire lineage and season of birth had significant effects. The production of milk, FCM and protein were higher in the MP group than in the IH group. The UD group tended to have the highest production of milk, FCM, protein, lactose, SNF and total solids (TS) and the AD group the lowest. The content of fat and TS were highest in the AD group. Effects of the sire were significant for average daily gains (ADG) from birth to weaning (0.55±0.03 kg, p<0.05), contents of fat (3.81±0.08%, p<0.05), protein (3.13±0.02%, p<0.05), and TS (12.67±0.12%, p<0.05). In the season of birth evaluation, statistical difference was found only in the content of protein (3.13±0.13%, p<0.05). Cows born in March-May had the highest % protein and cows born in June-August the lowest (3.21±0.04 vs. 3.06±0.05%). Dairy cows born and subsequently calving in December-February had the highest production of milk, protein and TS, and dairy cows born in June-August the lowest. FCM and fat yields were highest in the group born in September-November and lowest in the group born in June-August.

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Impact of an AI Heifer Calf Rearing Scheme on Dairy Stock Development in the Western Province of Sri Lanka

Cited by 3 publications

References 2 publications

Factors Affecting High Mortality Rates of Dairy Replacement Calves and Heifers in the Tropics and Strategies for Their Reduction

Factors Affecting High Mortality Rates of Dairy Replacement Calves and Heifers in the Tropics and Strategies for Their Reduction

Assessment of Major Causes of Calf Mortality in Urban and Periurban Dairy Production System of Ethiopia

Effects of Some Management Factors on Milk Production in First-calf Heifers

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