EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT DIETS ON LIVE WEIGHT, BODY CONDITION SCORE AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERSOF CALVES UNDER INTENSIVE FARMING SYSTEM

Abstract

It is a comprehensive study on Effect of Nutrition on Live Weight, Body Condition Score and Haematological Parameters of Calves under Intensive Farming System. In order to investigate associations between individual calf parameters and/or nutrition management practices and calf body weight (BW) attainment in intensive farms in Bangladesh, a prospective study was carried out at 3 commercial dairy farms in Sylhet district and included 90 crossbred calves. Information on feeding management factors were collected by personal observation and interview during four visits. At each visit, BW assessments were conducted by the same veterinarian. Blood samples were collected. Body Condition Score was measured in the first and fourth visit. The blood samples were analyzed for hematological parameters, total erythrocyte count (TEC), blood haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Low BW was associated with imbalanced, traditional calf starter fed to calves; calves kept under commercial Bovino Calf Starter and standard calf feed stated in the Text Book of Animal Husbandry by Banerjee (2005) shown quite similar result and advanced from the traditional practice result. It was observed that there was some effect of nutrition on hematological parameters (TEC, PCV, ESR), more in the blood hemoglobin level. Low hemoglobin concentrations were associated with retarded growth. These findings identified and quantified some critical factors that can guide farmers in improving calf performance on intensive dairy farms in Bangladesh. In conclusion, appropriate changes feeding would also be expected to improve productivity.