Mortality of Swamp Buffalo Calves during the Lactation Period

Year 2022, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 53 - 57, 01.04.2022

Khaled Al-najjar

https://doi.org/10.47115/bsagriculture.1012033

Cited By: 2

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine mortality of swamp calves under semi-intensive rearing conditions at Shtiha government Station in Al-Ghab District, Syria. A total of 501 buffalo calves born throughout period 2008-2018 were analyzed for suckling calf mortality rate study. SAS software (2012) was used to compare four mathematical models [basic and full linear fixed models, logistic, and logarithmic (Log linear) models] to estimate calf mortality during nursing period from birth to 90 days of age. Overall mean mortality rate ranged from 14.5±3.3 to 19.2±2.7%. Sex effect of a calf was significant in the basic model. Calving period and calf weight at birth were significant according to the basic and full models. Interaction between the calving periods and birth weight was highly significant by full linear fixed and Log linear models, confirming that birth weights during the calving period were heterogeneous. The maximum likelihood analysis shows that calf sex, calving period, and birth weight were significant in the logistic model. The parity and birth weight were significant in the linear Log linear model. Effect of birth weight was significant in all models, which confirms its importance in calf mortality. In conclusion, management of buffalo calves and improvement of birth weight to be greater than 30 kg is required to reduce mortality rates during the lactation period of buffalo calves.

Keywords

Bubalus bubalis, Buffalo calves, Mortality rate

Supporting Institution

Jerash University

Project Number

-

Thanks

The author acknowledges Jerash University's support for the implementation of researches and is grateful to the Syrian General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR) for providing data and information on the mortality of buffalo calves.

References

• Ahmad S, Yaqoob M, Hashmi N, Zaman MA, Amjad MS. 2009. Farmers’ attitude towards interventions regarding buffalo calf health care and management practices under field conditions. Pakistan Vet J, 29(3): 125-128.
• Amit S, Biswajit R, Baghel RPS. 2017. Studies on buffalo calf mortality in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh. Buffalo Bull, 36(3): 521-524.
• Archana B, Madhu S, Amita D. 2020. Cryptosporidiosis in Buffalo Calves. Buffalo Bull, 39(2):195-200.
• Bilal M, Yusen X, Ishtiaque RM. 2019. Assessment of calf health care and management practices under smallholder production system in Punjab, Pakistan. Buffalo Bull, 38(1): 57-66.
• Bilal MQ, Hameed A, Ahmad T. 2009. Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in buffalo and cow calves in rural areas of Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan. J Anim Plant Sci, 19(2): 67-70.
• Dinesh MAK, Gupta AU, Avtar S, Mukesh B, Binoy CN, Malhotra R. 2015. Effect of non-genetic factors on disposal pattern in female calves up to age at first calving. Indian J Dairy Sci, 68(2): 159-162.
• Duncan DB. 1955. Multiple Range and Multiple F tests. Biometrics, 11: 1.
• El-Regalaty HA, Aboul-Ela HB, 2014. Non-genetic factors affecting incidence of abortion, stillbirth and post–natal mortality of Egyptian buffaloes. J Anim Poult Prod, 5(6): 313-324.
• Elsayed M, Al-Momani AQ, Amin MJ, Al-Najjar KA. 2020. Genetic, phenotypic, and environmental trends towards improving birth and weaning weights of Syrian buffalo calves. J Livestock Sci., 12: 76-84.
• FAO. 2019. The second report on the State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, edited by Scher BD, and Pilling D. FAO, Rome. URL: https://www.fao.org/publications /card/fr/c/fea3da3d-d6ed-4a27-8f58-2d83222b29d9/ (access date: August 05, 2021).
• Hammad AH, Tunio MT, Shuming Y, Mohsina Z, Jing Q, Gang C, Ailiang C. 2013. Factors affecting mortality in buffaloes and calves. Int J Agric Sci Vet Med, 1(2): 1-6.
• Katsuji U. 2019. Newborn calf welfare: A review focusing on mortality rates. Animal Sci J, 84: 101-105.
• Kharkar KP, Raghuwanshi DS, Thakre PD, Lende SR, Khati BM. 2019. Effect of non-genetic parameters on mortality pattern in nagpuri buffalo calves. J Anim Health Prod, 7(1): 1-4.
• Khatun MR, Arifuzzaman MD, Ashraf A. 2009. A comparative analysis on factors affecting calf mortality of Buffalo in a breeding farm. Pakistan J Biol Sci, 12(23): 1535-1538.
• MOAAR. 2011. Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, URL: http://www. http://moaar. gov.sy /main /archives /category (access date: August 01, 2021).
• Moran JB. 2011. Factors affecting high mortality rates of dairy replacement calves and heifers in the tropics and strategies for their reduction. Asian-Aust J Anim Sci, 24(9): 1318-1328.
• Nitin MG, Mehra ML, Puneet M. 2016. Studies on effect of non-genetic parameters on mortality pattern in Murrah buffaloes. Buffalo Bull, 35(3): 365-370.
• Oswin PBMA. 1999. Reproductionin water buffalo: comparative aspects and implications for management. J Reprod Fert Suppl, 54: 157-168.
• SAS. 2012. Institute Inc.: SAS/STAT User’s Guide: Version 9.3, SAS Institute Inc., and Cary, NC, USA.
• Thiruvenkadan AK, Devendran P. 2014. Effect of non-genetic factors on replacement rate and its components in Murrah buffaloes of Tamil Nadu. Indian J Anim Sci, 84(12): 1325-1327.
• Zaib Ullah K, Sarzamin K, Nazir A, Abdur R. 2007. Investigation of mortality incidence and managemental practices in buffalo calves at commercial dairy farms in Peshawar city. J Agri Biol Sci, 2(3): 16-22.
• Zaman T, Khan A, Akhtar MZ. 2006. Some of the risk factors of Nili-Ravi buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis) neonatal calf mortality in Pakistan. Pakistan Vet J, 26(3): 121-125.