Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2019) 8(3): 2426-2435 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 8 Number 03 (2019) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2019.803.286 Breeding, Calf and Health Management Practices Opted by Buffalo Owners in Junagadh and Porbandar Districts of Gujarat: A Comparative Study B.A. Pata, M.D. Odedra, H.H. Savsani, A.R. Ahlawat*, T.K. Patbandha and A.B. Odedara College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh – 362001, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT The study was conducted in Junagadh and Porbandar districts of Gujarat to compare breeding, calf and health management practices opted by buffalo owners (n=300). Majority of farmers practiced natural service (59%), late heat for insemination (76.34%), pregnancy diagnosis (90% ) and treatment of anoestrous/repeaters buffaloes (90.33%). Most of respondents attended calving and took care of calves after parturition (98%) and cleaned calves (93.67%). However, few farmers practiced ligation/ cutting and disinfection of K e yw or ds navel cord (14.33%) and feeding colostrum to calf (33.33%). Such above managemental practices varied between Junagadh and Porbandar districts (P0.05). Majority of owners Breeding, calf, dewormed their calves (71.67%), allowed to suckle (77%) one teat (91.33%) and offered health, greens (96.67%) or concentrate (94.67%) to calves at 3 months of age. Majority of management, respondents practiced vaccination (84.67%) particularly F.M.D. (68.67%), but few farmers buffaloes dewormed their animals (11%). Buffalo owners cleaned water trough/ manger on every Article Info day in most cases (59.67%), but cleaned the shed on every alternate day (47.67%). Cleaning practices of waterer/ manger and shed differed statistically between the two Accepted: districts (P0.05).Majority of owners isolate sick buffaloes (87.67%), used medicine for 20 February 2019 ectoparasites (80.67%), washed hind quarter after placenta expulsion (93%) and called Available Online: 10 March 2019 livestock inspector to treat their buffaloes (55.33%). Calling livestock inspector or veterinary doctors for treatment of buffaloes varied in both districts (P0.05). Metabolic disorder was major problem in buffaloes (50.33%). Comparatively more number of owners in Porbandar reported reproductive problems but in less instance metabolic disorder than Junagadh district (P0.05).Above results indicated that farmers were aware about different breeding, calf and health care management practices. Further, certain managerial practices also differed markedly between Junagadh and Porbandar districts. Introduction of milk 335g during 2016-17. Buffalo shared about 49.2% of the total milk produced in India is leading the world in terms of milk India (Anonyms, 2018). Buffaloes not only production since 1998 and produced 165.4 contributed significantly to national milk pail million tonnes milk with per capita availability of the country but also have great demand for 2426 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2019) 8(3): 2426-2435 meat owing to banning of cattle slaughter. from Porbandar (Porbandar and Kutiyana) and Buffaloes also efficiently utilize the poor 3 from Junagadh (Keshod, Mangrol and quality crop residues and convert to milk and Manavadar), six villages from each taluka and meat as compared to cattle (El-serafy, 1991). 10 respondents from each village were Calves are considered as future replacement selected randomly with total sample size of stock of herd. Hence, proper care and 300. The respondents selected were evenly management could result a healthy distributed in the village and true replacement stock in a dairy farm. It has been representative of animal management reported that calf managemental as well as practices prevailing in the study area. health care practices of dam play significant Information related to calf management and role on calf morbidity and mortality (Pal et al., health care practices were collected using a 2016, Patbandha et al., 2017). Previous field pre-designed structured interview schedule. studies in Gujarat revealed that farmers were The interview schedule was prepared based on aware about some aspects of calf management review of literatures and consultation with practices with wide variation from one part to experts. The information related to buffalo another part of the state (Chaudhary et al., calf management and health care management 2016, Divekar et al., 2016, Sabapara et al., was collected. 2015, Patbandha et al., 2017). In dairy buffaloes the production could be sustainable Statistical analysis only when they remain healthy. Proper care and preventive measures could reduce the risk Collected data were compiled, tabulated and of disease outbreak or the negative impact on presented as frequency and percent for better productivity due to disease (Kumar, 2015). interpretation. The parameters between the two districts (Junagadh and Porbandar) were However, owing to money constraint or compared by chi-square test and considered as ignorance, some farmers treat their animals at significant if P0.05. home by paravets or traditional means (Sabapara, 2014) which incurred huge Results and Discussion production and economic loss. Similar to calf management, the health care management of Breeding management practices dairy animals varies in different parts of Gujarat as cited by different authors Breeding management practices opted by the (Sabapara, 2014, Divekar et al., 2016). The buffalo owners in Junagadh and Porbandar present experiment was designed to compare districts are depicted in Table 1. The different calf managemental and health care practices managerial practices related to buffalo followed by the buffalo owners in Junagadh breeding were similar between two districts. and Porbandar districts of Gujarat. In the study area, overall majority of farmers practiced natural service (59%) and rest used Materials and Methods artificial insemination. In Junagadh and Porbandar about 60.56 and 59% farmers The study was conducted in Junagadh and practiced traditional natural service using the Porbandar districts of south-west Gujarat village bull which is comparable to Patel et during Jan-2017 to Feb-2018. Large number al., (2005), who found that 63% cases natural of farmers in this area reared buffaloes as well service practiced by the farmers. However, as the researcher was also familiar to the area, Sunil et al., (2011) reported higher number of hence selected purposefully. Five talukas, 2 respondents practising natural service. 2427 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2019) 8(3): 2426-2435 On an average 76.34% respondents reported practices between the two districts (96.67 vs. that late heat is the best time for insemination, 89.17%, P0.05) and the overall value was with 72.78 and 81.67%, respectively in 93.67%. These findings are supported by the Junagadh and Porbandar districts. These others (Bais and Singh, 2013, Sabapara et al., findings are in contrary with Khadda et al., 2015 and Kumar and Mishra, 2011). (2017) who found that 82.08per cent inseminate their buffaloes at mid heat. The results indicated that 95.56 and 70.83% Moreover, Rangamma et al., (2016) reported respondents, respectively in Junagadh and that 67.67% respondents followed AM-PM Porbandar districts did not practice rule for insemination of buffaloes. In both ligation/cutting and disinfection of the navel Junagadh and Porbandar, majority of farmers cord with overall value 85.67%. Such calf preferred pregnancy diagnosis for management activity differed statistically confirmation of pregnancy (89.44 and 90.83%, between the two districts (Table 2). The respectively) and the overall value was 90%. results are similar to the reports of Yadav et These findings are comparable with other al., (2016) and Godara et al., (2017) but studies on dairy buffaloes (Singh et al., 2015, contrary to Bais and Singh, 2013, Sabapara et Rangamma et al., 2016). Farmers on an al., 2015. The variation of results in different average 90.33% cases treated studies might be associated with the regional anoestrous/repeaters buffaloes which variation or the knowledge level of comprised of 87.78 and 94.17% in Junagadh respondents. and Porbandar district, respectively. The results are comparatively higher than Majority of respondents (66.67%) did not feed Rangamma et al., (2016), who observed that colostrum to new born calves within 1-2 hours 68% farmers adopted treatment practices for after calving in the study area and such anoestrous/repeaters buffaloes. Additionally, practice differed statistically between the two Sunil et al., (2011) who found that only 5% districts i.e. 61.11 and 75%, respectively in farmers treated their milch animals for Junagadh and Porbandar district (P0.05). On anestrous and repeat breeding problem. the other hand, very less number of buffalo owners fed colostrum to calves within the Calf rearing practices recommended time of 1-2 hours soon after birth (Table 2). There was significant The buffalo calf rearing practices opted by difference between Junagadh and Porbandar dairy farmers in Junagadh and Porbandar district in relation to feeding of colostrum to districts are presented in Table 2. About 98% new born calf with time (38.89% vs. 25%, respondents attended calving and took care of P≤0.05).These results are in accordance with the calves after parturition in the study area study of Kushwaha et al., (2007) and which differed significantly between Junagadh