Calf-mother interrelationship: I-the effect of calf contact on milk parameters

Ten buffalo-low of a milking buffalo herd were used in this study to investigate the effect of calf contact on dam status [milk yield and composition as well as milking characteristics]. The experimental animals were divided into two groups: a] Suckling group in which calves were kept with their dams and suckled milk in a natural way. b] Milking group in which calves separated from their dams 3-5 days post calving the dams were hand milked and the calves suckled milk artificially via nipple pail. Daily milk yield was estimated milk samples were taken and analysed for fat%, lactose%, protein% and ash%. Morever, weekly determination of pre-milking stimulation, milking duration and milk flow rate were carried out for each animal. It was concluded that average daily milk yield was significantly higher [9.15 +/- 0.80 kg] in milking group than in suckling one [7.82 +/- 0.95 kg]. Average butter fat% was significantly higher in milking group [6.26 +/- 0.72 gm%] than in suckling one [5.59 +/- 1.1 gm%]. However, variations in lactose, protein and ash lacked significance [4.15 +/- 0.17 gm%, 3.90 +/- 0.18 gm% and 0.8 +/- 0.04 gm% in suckling group vs. 4.08 +/- 0.28 gm/%, 3.12 +/- 0.25 gm%, and 0.85 +/- 0.06 gm% in milking one respectively]. It was also found that pre-suckling stimulation was significantly shorter [2.02 +/- 0.37 minutes] than pre-milking stimulation [2.61 +/- 0.95 minutes]. Moreover, suckling duration was significantly longer than milking duration [7.06 +/- 2.01 vs, 4.66 +/- 0.67 minutes respectively]. Also, milk flow rate averaged 0.63 +/- 0.17 and 1.12 +/- 0.12 kg/minute for suckling and milking groups respectively and showed a significant variation

Calf-mother interrelationship: effect of calf contact on blood parameters

Ten buffalo-cows of a milking buffalo hred were used in this study to investigate the effect of calf contact on dam status [Blood profle mineral profile and total plasma proteins] the experimental animals were divided into two groups: a] Suckling group in which calves were kept with their dams and suckled milk in a natural way. b] Milking group in which calves were separated from their dams 3-5 days after calving and these dams were hand milked while the calves suckled milk artificially via nipple pial. Weekly blood samples were collected from the experimental animals for determination of haemoglobin red blood cells white blood cells and differential count. Blood plasma used for estimation of calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium and total plasma proteins. It was concluded that the variations in crythrocytic and leucocytic counts as well as haemoglobin percentsage lacked significance due to suckling or milking. However suckling showed a clear lymphocytosis, eosinopenia and basopenia. Calcium and magnesium plasma levels were higher in the milking group than in suckling one [11.61 +/- 0.77 vs 11.15 +/- 0.35 gm% for calcium and 3.52 +/- 0.16 vs 3.17 +/- 0.15 gm% for magnesium]. Inorganic phosphorus level revealed no significant difference between group However, calph ratio was narrower in the suckling group [1.92:1] than in milking one [2.03:1]. Variation in total plasma protein percentage lacked significance between both groups [8.77 +/- 0.16 gm% in suckling vs 9.02 +/- 0.38 gm% in milking group]

Growth rate and behavioural patterns of buffalo calves under natural and artificial suckling conditions

Ten buffalo calves were used in this study to investigate the effect of natural and artificial suckling on growth rate behavioural patterns of buffalo calves during the first 3 months of life. The experimental calves were divided into 2 groups: a] Natural suckled calves: in which calves were with their dams and suckled milk in natural way. b] Artificial suckled calves: in which the calves were separated from their dams after colostral period [3-5 days] and the milk of each dam was given to its calf via nipple pail. Calves were weighed individually at weekly intervals during the experimental period for determination of absolute and instantaneous relative rate of growth and also some behavioural patterns within calves were recorded. The results indicated that absolute rate of growth/day was significantly higher [0.68 +/- 0.21 kg] in suckling group than in milking one [0.53 +/- 0.3 kg]. So, the suckled calves grew more quicker than other calves. Wagging the tails, butting each other, snoring in an enjoyable manner and playing are common characters in suckled calves. However, these behavioural patterns were not observed between calves of milking group. Also natural suckling associated with butting was a common problem within artificially suckled calves