Studies on some behavioural paterns, performance and immune status in dairy calves under field conditions

This study was carried out in two dairy farms in Beni-Suef governorate on a total of 67 calves from birth till weaning age. The calves in farm [I] isolated from their dams after five days postpartum while in farm [II] the calves kept with their dams. Oral and social behavioural patterns of these calves were recorded. Calf performance as well as average daily gain in body weight, girth, height and length were measured till weaning age. Moreover IgG and IgM were estimated in the sera of newly born calves during pre and post colostrol feeding. These parameters were also estimated in the colostrum. Results revealed an increase in oral behavioural patterns with the advance of age in calves of both farms. The percentage of time in rumination in calves at the age of 6 weeks was significantly higher [20.20%] in farm I than in farm II [14.62%]. Social behaviour under natural rearing system [farm II] was improved to a greater extent than under artifical rearing [farm I]. The obtained results showed an increase in calf birth weight in farm [I] [30.68 Kg] than those in farm [II] [27.70 Kg], while there was no significant difference in the average daily weight gain between the two farms. Moreover, the other calf body measurements showed no significant differences between the two farms. The levels of IgG in farm [I and II] at birth amounted to 1.74 and 1.96 mg/ml respectively. After 24 hours post colostrol feeding these values increased to 35.47 and 39.52 mg/ml. On the other hand, the levels of IgM in farm [I and 11] at birth were 0.18 and 0.14 mg/ml respectively, and increased to 2.69 and 2.73 mg/ml 24 hours after post colostral feeding In the colostrum, the levels of IgG in farm [I] und [II] [21.95 and 21.24 mg/ml] were higher than those of IgM [2.48 and 2.42 mg/ml]. It was concluded that cohabitation of the calves with their dams from birth till weaning favour the calf welfare, improving the social behaviour and immune status which reflects the high performance

Effect of some pollutants as stressors on some behavioural patterns and performance of broiler chickens

A total of 200 Hubbard day-old chicks of both sexes were raised together up to 2 weeks of age, then were randomly divided into four equal groups [I, II, III and IV] each of 50 birds. Each group was housed in a separate room. Group I was optimally accommodated and considered as the control, while in group II birds were exposed to 3000-3200 ppm of carbon dioxide. Group III was exposed to 100-125 ppm of ammonia, and group IV was exposed to sprinkling with 10 g fine dust for 15 minutes daily. The results showed that, exposure of broiler chickens to some noxious stimuli [stressers] throughout the rearing period significantly reduced feed consumption, weight gain and consequently feed conversion compared with the control group. In addition, investigative [feeding and drinking] and comfort [rest, sleep and preening] behaviors were influenced by stressers, on the other h and, there was a significant increase in occurrence of agonistic behavior [feather pecking and cannibalism] in the group exposed to stresses. This leads to increased mortality percentage among those birds

Efficacy evaluation of new teat dip formulation [cyteal] for control of bovine mastitis under experimental and field conditions

The germicidal activity of commercial teat dip formulation [cyteal] [containing 0.1 g hexamidine, 0.5 ml chlorhexidine digluconate and 0.3 g chlorocresol] was tested in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus and Corynebacterium bovis field strains isolated from a dairy herd of 78 lactating cows. It was revealed that concentration of 0.5% tested compound was effective against the isolated organisms. A natural exposure study was conducted for 6 months in dairy herd to determine the efficacy of cyteal as post-milking teat antiseptic for the prevention of the new intramammary infections. There were 7.4% new intramammary infections on the dipped group and 21.6 on the control group [65.7% reduction]. The teat dip was effective in preventing new infections with Staphylococci, Strept. agalactiae, Coryne. bovis but did not appear to prevent new infection with coliforms. The percentage of infected quarters on the dipped group was reduced from an initial [35.1%] to [22.2%] at the end of the study whereas the incidence in the control quarters increased from 23.6% to 35.8% at the end of the study

Hygienic measures for control of pneumonia in buffalo-calves with reference to hematological and serum biochemical findings

Bacteriological results indicated that E. coli was the most important pathogen isolated in calves environment in examined farm in percentage of 47.7%. Soil and water intended for drinking of calves represent an important reservoir for the potential pathogenic agents that causing pneumonia in buffalo-calves. Infection to other calves, appears to both spread mainly through the attendant's h and s and aerosol droplets, on the other h and, E. coli and P. multocida [mixed infection] appears the more important cause of pneumonia outbreak in buffalo-calves in examined farm as they were isolated in highest percentage [47.6%] followed by the P. multocida and E. coli in percentage 28.6 and 14.3% respectively. Therefore, appears that, the association between cold, damp weather conditions and pneumonia outbreak in calves is entirely due to an increased challenge from the environmental pathogens rather than reduction in calf's resistance